Distributed architecture for remotely located sensor panels

ABSTRACT

A touch sensor device includes a first panel, a second panel, and a drive-sense circuit (DSC). The first panel that includes first electrodes arranged in a first direction and second electrodes arranged in a second direction. The second panel includes third electrodes arranged in a third direction and fourth electrodes arranged in a fourth direction. The DSC is operably coupled via a single line to a coupling of a first electrode of the first electrodes and a first electrode of the third electrodes. The DSC is configured to provide the signal, which is generated based on a reference signal, via the single line to the coupling and simultaneously to sense the signal via the single line. The DSC generates a digital signal representative of the at least one electrical characteristic associated with the first electrode of the first electrodes and/or the first electrode of the third electrodes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No.17/853,193, entitled “Distributed architecture for remotely locatedsensor panels,” filed Jun. 29, 2022, pending, which is s a continuationof U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 17/537,768, entitled “Drive-SenseControl for Extended Sensor Panels,” filed Nov. 30, 2021, now issued asU.S. Pat. No. 11,474,634 on Oct. 18, 2022, which claims prioritypursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation of U.S. Utilityapplication Ser. No. 17/142,569, entitled “Drive-Sense Control forExtended Sensor Panels,” filed Jan. 6, 2021, now issued as U.S. Pat. No.11,216,109 on Jan. 4, 2022, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C.§ 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/958,098, entitled“Drive-Sense Control for Extended Sensor Panels,” filed Jan. 7, 2020,all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Applicationfor all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to data communication systems and moreparticularly to sensed data collection and/or communication.

Description of Related Art

Sensors are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from in-homeautomation, to industrial systems, to health care, to transportation,and so on. For example, sensors are placed in bodies, automobiles,airplanes, boats, ships, trucks, motorcycles, cell phones, televisions,touch-screens, industrial plants, appliances, motors, checkout counters,etc. for the variety of applications.

In general, a sensor converts a physical quantity into an electrical oroptical signal. For example, a sensor converts a physical phenomenon,such as a biological condition, a chemical condition, an electriccondition, an electromagnetic condition, a temperature, a magneticcondition, mechanical motion (position, velocity, acceleration, force,pressure), an optical condition, and/or a radioactivity condition, intoan electrical signal.

A sensor includes a transducer, which functions to convert one form ofenergy (e.g., force) into another form of energy (e.g., electricalsignal). There are a variety of transducers to support the variousapplications of sensors. For example, a transducer is capacitor, apiezoelectric transducer, a piezoresistive transducer, a thermaltransducer, a thermal-couple, a photoconductive transducer such as aphotoresistor, a photodiode, and/or phototransistor.

A sensor circuit is coupled to a sensor to provide the sensor with powerand to receive the signal representing the physical phenomenon from thesensor. The sensor circuit includes at least three electricalconnections to the sensor: one for a power supply; another for a commonvoltage reference (e.g., ground); and a third for receiving the signalrepresenting the physical phenomenon. The signal representing thephysical phenomenon will vary from the power supply voltage to ground asthe physical phenomenon changes from one extreme to another (for therange of sensing the physical phenomenon).

The sensor circuits provide the received sensor signals to one or morecomputing devices for processing. A computing device is known tocommunicate data, process data, and/or store data. The computing devicemay be a cellular phone, a laptop, a tablet, a personal computer (PC), awork station, a video game device, a server, and/or a data center thatsupport millions of web searches, stock trades, or on-line purchasesevery hour.

The computing device processes the sensor signals for a variety ofapplications. For example, the computing device processes sensor signalsto determine temperatures of a variety of items in a refrigerated truckduring transit. As another example, the computing device processes thesensor signals to determine a touch on a touchscreen. As yet anotherexample, the computing device processes the sensor signals to determinevarious data points in a production line of a product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a communicationsystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computingdevice in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a computingdevice in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a computingdevice in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a schematic plot diagram of a computing subsystem inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of acomputing subsystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of acomputing subsystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5D is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of acomputing subsystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5E is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of acomputing subsystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a drive center circuit inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a drivesense circuit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an example of a power signal graph in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is an example of a sensor graph in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of another example of a power signalgraph in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another example of a powersignal graph in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another example of a powersignal graph in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11A is a schematic block diagram of another example of a powersignal graph in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a power signalchange detection circuit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of adrive-sense circuit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a touchscreendisplay in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of atouchscreen display in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a touch sensordevice in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a touchsensor device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18A is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a method for sensing atouch on a touchscreen display in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18B is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a drive sensecircuit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a drivesense circuit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a DSC that isinteractive with an electrode in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a DSC thatis interactive with an electrode in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 22A is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a touchsensor device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 22B and FIG. 22C are schematic block diagrams of embodiments ofmutual signaling within a touch sensor device in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an extendedtouch sensor device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 24A is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an extendedtouch sensor device including signaling via respective sets of rows andcolumns in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 24B is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of anextended touch sensor device including signaling via respective sets ofrows and columns in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of anextended touch sensor device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an extendedtouch sensor device including variable resolution and interoperablesensor panels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of anextended matrix touch sensor device in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 28 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of anextended touch sensor device based on a distributed architecture forremotely located sensor panels in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a touchsensor device based on a distributed architecture for remotely locatedand independently operable sensor panels in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 30 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of aduplicated/mirrored touch sensor device in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 31 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of aduplicated/mirrored touch sensor device based on a distributedarchitecture for remotely located sensor panels in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 32 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of aduplicated/mirrored touch sensor device based on a distributedarchitecture for remotely located sensor panels in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 33 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of aduplicated/mirrored touch sensor device based on a distributedarchitecture for remotely located sensor panels in accordance with thepresent invention; and

FIG. 34 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of aduplicated/mirrored touch sensor device including variable resolutionand interoperable sensor panels in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a communicationsystem 10 that includes a plurality of computing devices 12-10, one ormore servers 22, one or more databases 24, one or more networks 26, aplurality of drive-sense circuits 28, a plurality of sensors 30, and aplurality of actuators 32. Computing devices 14 include a touchscreen 16with sensors and drive-sensor circuits and computing devices 18 includea touch & tactic screen 20 that includes sensors, actuators, anddrive-sense circuits.

A sensor 30 functions to convert a physical input into an electricaloutput and/or an optical output. The physical input of a sensor may beone of a variety of physical input conditions. For example, the physicalcondition includes one or more of, but is not limited to, acoustic waves(e.g., amplitude, phase, polarization, spectrum, and/or wave velocity);a biological and/or chemical condition (e.g., fluid concentration,level, composition, etc.); an electric condition (e.g., charge, voltage,current, conductivity, permittivity, eclectic field, which includesamplitude, phase, and/or polarization); a magnetic condition (e.g.,flux, permeability, magnetic field, which amplitude, phase, and/orpolarization); an optical condition (e.g., refractive index,reflectivity, absorption, etc.); a thermal condition (e.g., temperature,flux, specific heat, thermal conductivity, etc.); and a mechanicalcondition (e.g., position, velocity, acceleration, force, strain,stress, pressure, torque, etc.). For example, piezoelectric sensorconverts force or pressure into an eclectic signal. As another example,a microphone converts audible acoustic waves into electrical signals.

There are a variety of types of sensors to sense the various types ofphysical conditions. Sensor types include, but are not limited to,capacitor sensors, inductive sensors, accelerometers, piezoelectricsensors, light sensors, magnetic field sensors, ultrasonic sensors,temperature sensors, infrared (IR) sensors, touch sensors, proximitysensors, pressure sensors, level sensors, smoke sensors, and gassensors. In many ways, sensors function as the interface between thephysical world and the digital world by converting real world conditionsinto digital signals that are then processed by computing devices for avast number of applications including, but not limited to, medicalapplications, production automation applications, home environmentcontrol, public safety, and so on.

The various types of sensors have a variety of sensor characteristicsthat are factors in providing power to the sensors, receiving signalsfrom the sensors, and/or interpreting the signals from the sensors. Thesensor characteristics include resistance, reactance, powerrequirements, sensitivity, range, stability, repeatability, linearity,error, response time, and/or frequency response. For example, theresistance, reactance, and/or power requirements are factors indetermining drive circuit requirements. As another example, sensitivity,stability, and/or linear are factors for interpreting the measure of thephysical condition based on the received electrical and/or opticalsignal (e.g., measure of temperature, pressure, etc.).

An actuator 32 converts an electrical input into a physical output. Thephysical output of an actuator may be one of a variety of physicaloutput conditions. For example, the physical output condition includesone or more of, but is not limited to, acoustic waves (e.g., amplitude,phase, polarization, spectrum, and/or wave velocity); a magneticcondition (e.g., flux, permeability, magnetic field, which amplitude,phase, and/or polarization); a thermal condition (e.g., temperature,flux, specific heat, thermal conductivity, etc.); and a mechanicalcondition (e.g., position, velocity, acceleration, force, strain,stress, pressure, torque, etc.). As an example, a piezoelectric actuatorconverts voltage into force or pressure. As another example, a speakerconverts electrical signals into audible acoustic waves.

An actuator 32 may be one of a variety of actuators. For example, anactuator 32 is one of a comb drive, a digital micro-mirror device, anelectric motor, an electroactive polymer, a hydraulic cylinder, apiezoelectric actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a screw jack, aservomechanism, a solenoid, a stepper motor, a shape-memory allow, athermal bimorph, and a hydraulic actuator.

The various types of actuators have a variety of actuatorscharacteristics that are factors in providing power to the actuator andsending signals to the actuators for desired performance. The actuatorcharacteristics include resistance, reactance, power requirements,sensitivity, range, stability, repeatability, linearity, error, responsetime, and/or frequency response. For example, the resistance, reactance,and power requirements are factors in determining drive circuitrequirements. As another example, sensitivity, stability, and/or linearare factors for generating the signaling to send to the actuator toobtain the desired physical output condition.

The computing devices 12, 14, and 18 may each be a portable computingdevice and/or a fixed computing device. A portable computing device maybe a social networking device, a gaming device, a cell phone, a smartphone, a digital assistant, a digital music player, a digital videoplayer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet, a video gamecontroller, and/or any other portable device that includes a computingcore. A fixed computing device may be a computer (PC), a computerserver, a cable set-top box, a satellite receiver, a television set, aprinter, a fax machine, home entertainment equipment, a video gameconsole, and/or any type of home or office computing equipment. Thecomputing devices 12, 14, and 18 will be discussed in greater detailwith reference to one or more of FIGS. 2-4 .

A server 22 is a special type of computing device that is optimized forprocessing large amounts of data requests in parallel. A server 22includes similar components to that of the computing devices 12, 14,and/or 18 with more robust processing modules, more main memory, and/ormore hard drive memory (e.g., solid state, hard drives, etc.). Further,a server 22 is typically accessed remotely; as such it does notgenerally include user input devices and/or user output devices. Inaddition, a server may be a standalone separate computing device and/ormay be a cloud computing device.

A database 24 is a special type of computing device that is optimizedfor large scale data storage and retrieval. A database 24 includessimilar components to that of the computing devices 12, 14, and/or 18with more hard drive memory (e.g., solid state, hard drives, etc.) andpotentially with more processing modules and/or main memory. Further, adatabase 24 is typically accessed remotely; as such it does notgenerally include user input devices and/or user output devices. Inaddition, a database 24 may be a standalone separate computing deviceand/or may be a cloud computing device.

The network 26 includes one more local area networks (LAN) and/or one ormore wide area networks WAN), which may be a public network and/or aprivate network. A LAN may be a wireless-LAN (e.g., Wi-Fi access point,Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc.) and/or a wired network (e.g., Firewire,Ethernet, etc.). A WAN may be a wired and/or wireless WAN. For example,a LAN may be a personal home or business's wireless network and a WAN isthe Internet, cellular telephone infrastructure, and/or satellitecommunication infrastructure.

In an example of operation, computing device 12-1 communicates with aplurality of drive-sense circuits 28, which, in turn, communicate with aplurality of sensors 30. The sensors 30 and/or the drive-sense circuits28 are within the computing device 12-1 and/or external to it. Forexample, the sensors 30 may be external to the computing device 12-1 andthe drive-sense circuits are within the computing device 12-1. Asanother example, both the sensors 30 and the drive-sense circuits 28 areexternal to the computing device 12-1. When the drive-sense circuits 28are external to the computing device, they are coupled to the computingdevice 12-1 via wired and/or wireless communication links as will bediscussed in greater detail with reference to one or more of FIGS.5A-5C.

The computing device 12-1 communicates with the drive-sense circuits 28to; (a) turn them on, (b) obtain data from the sensors (individuallyand/or collectively), (c) instruct the drive sense circuit on how tocommunicate the sensed data to the computing device 12-1, (d) providesignaling attributes (e.g., DC level, AC level, frequency, power level,regulated current signal, regulated voltage signal, regulation of animpedance, frequency patterns for various sensors, different frequenciesfor different sensing applications, etc.) to use with the sensors,and/or (e) provide other commands and/or instructions.

As a specific example, the sensors 30 are distributed along a pipelineto measure flow rate and/or pressure within a section of the pipeline.The drive-sense circuits 28 have their own power source (e.g., battery,power supply, etc.) and are proximally located to their respectivesensors 30. At desired time intervals (milliseconds, seconds, minutes,hours, etc.), the drive-sense circuits 28 provide a regulated sourcesignal or a power signal to the sensors 30. An electrical characteristicof the sensor 30 affects the regulated source signal or power signal,which is reflective of the condition (e.g., the flow rate and/or thepressure) that sensor is sensing.

The drive-sense circuits 28 detect the effects on the regulated sourcesignal or power signals as a result of the electrical characteristics ofthe sensors. The drive-sense circuits 28 then generate signalsrepresentative of change to the regulated source signal or power signalbased on the detected effects on the power signals. The changes to theregulated source signals or power signals are representative of theconditions being sensed by the sensors 30.

The drive-sense circuits 28 provide the representative signals of theconditions to the computing device 12-1. A representative signal may bean analog signal or a digital signal. In either case, the computingdevice 12-1 interprets the representative signals to determine thepressure and/or flow rate at each sensor location along the pipeline.The computing device may then provide this information to the server 22,the database 24, and/or to another computing device for storing and/orfurther processing.

As another example of operation, computing device 12-2 is coupled to adrive-sense circuit 28, which is, in turn, coupled to a senor 30. Thesensor 30 and/or the drive-sense circuit 28 may be internal and/orexternal to the computing device 12-2. In this example, the sensor 30 issensing a condition that is particular to the computing device 12-2. Forexample, the sensor 30 may be a temperature sensor, an ambient lightsensor, an ambient noise sensor, etc. As described above, wheninstructed by the computing device 12-2 (which may be a default settingfor continuous sensing or at regular intervals), the drive-sense circuit28 provides the regulated source signal or power signal to the sensor 30and detects an effect to the regulated source signal or power signalbased on an electrical characteristic of the sensor. The drive-sensecircuit generates a representative signal of the affect and sends it tothe computing device 12-2.

In another example of operation, computing device 12-3 is coupled to aplurality of drive-sense circuits 28 that are coupled to a plurality ofsensors 30 and is coupled to a plurality of drive-sense circuits 28 thatare coupled to a plurality of actuators 32. The generally functionalityof the drive-sense circuits 28 coupled to the sensors 30 in accordancewith the above description.

Since an actuator 32 is essentially an inverse of a sensor in that anactuator converts an electrical signal into a physical condition, whilea sensor converts a physical condition into an electrical signal, thedrive-sense circuits 28 can be used to power actuators 32. Thus, in thisexample, the computing device 12-3 provides actuation signals to thedrive-sense circuits 28 for the actuators 32. The drive-sense circuitsmodulate the actuation signals on to power signals or regulated controlsignals, which are provided to the actuators 32. The actuators 32 arepowered from the power signals or regulated control signals and producethe desired physical condition from the modulated actuation signals.

As another example of operation, computing device 12-x is coupled to adrive-sense circuit 28 that is coupled to a sensor 30 and is coupled toa drive-sense circuit 28 that is coupled to an actuator 32. In thisexample, the sensor 30 and the actuator 32 are for use by the computingdevice 12-x. For example, the sensor 30 may be a piezoelectricmicrophone and the actuator 32 may be a piezoelectric speaker.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computingdevice 12 (e.g., any one of 12-1 through 12-x). The computing device 12includes a core control module 40, one or more processing modules 42,one or more main memories 44, cache memory 46, a video graphicsprocessing module 48, a display 50, an Input-Output (I/O) peripheralcontrol module 52, one or more input interface modules 56, one or moreoutput interface modules 58, one or more network interface modules 60,and one or more memory interface modules 62. A processing module 42 isdescribed in greater detail at the end of the detailed description ofthe invention section and, in an alternative embodiment, has a directionconnection to the main memory 44. In an alternate embodiment, the corecontrol module 40 and the I/O and/or peripheral control module 52 areone module, such as a chipset, a quick path interconnect (QPI), and/oran ultra-path interconnect (UPI).

Each of the main memories 44 includes one or more Random Access Memory(RAM) integrated circuits, or chips. For example, a main memory 44includes four DDR4 (4^(th) generation of double data rate) RAM chips,each running at a rate of 2,400 MHz. In general, the main memory 44stores data and operational instructions most relevant for theprocessing module 42. For example, the core control module 40coordinates the transfer of data and/or operational instructions fromthe main memory 44 and the memory 64-66. The data and/or operationalinstructions retrieve from memory 64-66 are the data and/or operationalinstructions requested by the processing module or will most likely beneeded by the processing module. When the processing module is done withthe data and/or operational instructions in main memory, the corecontrol module 40 coordinates sending updated data to the memory 64-66for storage.

The memory 64-66 includes one or more hard drives, one or more solidstate memory chips, and/or one or more other large capacity storagedevices that, in comparison to cache memory and main memory devices,is/are relatively inexpensive with respect to cost per amount of datastored. The memory 64-66 is coupled to the core control module 40 viathe I/O and/or peripheral control module 52 and via one or more memoryinterface modules 62. In an embodiment, the I/O and/or peripheralcontrol module 52 includes one or more Peripheral Component Interface(PCI) buses to which peripheral components connect to the core controlmodule 40. A memory interface module 62 includes a software driver and ahardware connector for coupling a memory device to the I/O and/orperipheral control module 52. For example, a memory interface 62 is inaccordance with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) port.

The core control module 40 coordinates data communications between theprocessing module(s) 42 and the network(s) 26 via the I/O and/orperipheral control module 52, the network interface module(s) 60, and anetwork card 68 or 70. A network card 68 or 70 includes a wirelesscommunication unit or a wired communication unit. A wirelesscommunication unit includes a wireless local area network (WLAN)communication device, a cellular communication device, a Bluetoothdevice, and/or a ZigBee communication device. A wired communication unitincludes a Gigabit LAN connection, a Firewire connection, and/or aproprietary computer wired connection. A network interface module 60includes a software driver and a hardware connector for coupling thenetwork card to the I/O and/or peripheral control module 52. Forexample, the network interface module 60 is in accordance with one ormore versions of IEEE 802.11, cellular telephone protocols, 10/100/1000Gigabit LAN protocols, etc.

The core control module 40 coordinates data communications between theprocessing module(s) 42 and input device(s) 72 via the input interfacemodule(s) 56 and the I/O and/or peripheral control module 52. An inputdevice 72 includes a keypad, a keyboard, control switches, a touchpad, amicrophone, a camera, etc. An input interface module 56 includes asoftware driver and a hardware connector for coupling an input device tothe I/O and/or peripheral control module 52. In an embodiment, an inputinterface module 56 is in accordance with one or more Universal SerialBus (USB) protocols.

The core control module 40 coordinates data communications between theprocessing module(s) 42 and output device(s) 74 via the output interfacemodule(s) 58 and the I/O and/or peripheral control module 52. An outputdevice 74 includes a speaker, etc. An output interface module 58includes a software driver and a hardware connector for coupling anoutput device to the I/O and/or peripheral control module 52. In anembodiment, an output interface module 56 is in accordance with one ormore audio codec protocols.

The processing module 42 communicates directly with a video graphicsprocessing module 48 to display data on the display 50. The display 50includes an LED (light emitting diode) display, an LCD (liquid crystaldisplay), and/or other type of display technology. The display has aresolution, an aspect ratio, and other features that affect the qualityof the display. The video graphics processing module 48 receives datafrom the processing module 42, processes the data to produce rendereddata in accordance with the characteristics of the display, and providesthe rendered data to the display 50.

FIG. 2 further illustrates sensors 30 and actuators 32 coupled todrive-sense circuits 28, which are coupled to the input interface module56 (e.g., USB port). Alternatively, one or more of the drive-sensecircuits 28 is coupled to the computing device via a wireless networkcard (e.g., WLAN) or a wired network card (e.g., Gigabit LAN). While notshown, the computing device 12 further includes a BIOS (Basic InputOutput System) memory coupled to the core control module 40.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a computingdevice 14 that includes a core control module 40, one or more processingmodules 42, one or more main memories 44, cache memory 46, a videographics processing module 48, a touchscreen 16, an Input-Output (I/O)peripheral control module 52, one or more input interface modules 56,one or more output interface modules 58, one or more network interfacemodules 60, and one or more memory interface modules 62. The touchscreen16 includes a touchscreen display 80, a plurality of sensors 30, aplurality of drive-sense circuits (DSC), and a touchscreen processingmodule 82.

Computing device 14 operates similarly to computing device 12 of FIG. 2with the addition of a touchscreen as an input device. The touchscreenincludes a plurality of sensors (e.g., electrodes, capacitor sensingcells, capacitor sensors, inductive sensor, etc.) to detect a proximaltouch of the screen. For example, when one or more fingers touches thescreen, capacitance of sensors proximal to the touch(es) are affected(e.g., impedance changes). The drive-sense circuits (DSC) coupled to theaffected sensors detect the change and provide a representation of thechange to the touchscreen processing module 82, which may be a separateprocessing module or integrated into the processing module 42.

The touchscreen processing module 82 processes the representativesignals from the drive-sense circuits (DSC) to determine the location ofthe touch(es). This information is inputted to the processing module 42for processing as an input. For example, a touch represents a selectionof a button on screen, a scroll function, a zoom in-out function, etc.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a computingdevice 18 that includes a core control module 40, one or more processingmodules 42, one or more main memories 44, cache memory 46, a videographics processing module 48, a touch and tactile screen 20, anInput-Output (I/O) peripheral control module 52, one or more inputinterface modules 56, one or more output interface modules 58, one ormore network interface modules 60, and one or more memory interfacemodules 62. The touch and tactile screen 20 includes a touch and tactilescreen display 90, a plurality of sensors 30, a plurality of actuators32, a plurality of drive-sense circuits (DSC), a touchscreen processingmodule 82, and a tactile screen processing module 92.

Computing device 18 operates similarly to computing device 14 of FIG. 3with the addition of a tactile aspect to the screen 20 as an outputdevice. The tactile portion of the screen 20 includes the plurality ofactuators (e.g., piezoelectric transducers to create vibrations,solenoids to create movement, etc.) to provide a tactile feel to thescreen 20. To do so, the processing module creates tactile data, whichis provided to the appropriate drive-sense circuits (DSC) via thetactile screen processing module 92, which may be a stand-aloneprocessing module or integrated into processing module 42. Thedrive-sense circuits (DSC) convert the tactile data into drive-actuatesignals and provide them to the appropriate actuators to create thedesired tactile feel on the screen 20.

FIG. 5A is a schematic plot diagram of a computing subsystem 25 thatincludes a sensed data processing module 65, a plurality ofcommunication modules 61A-x, a plurality of processing modules 42A-x, aplurality of drive sense circuits 28, and a plurality of sensors 1-x,which may be sensors 30 of FIG. 1 . The sensed data processing module 65is one or more processing modules within one or more servers 22 and/orone more processing modules in one or more computing devices that aredifferent than the computing devices in which processing modules 42A-xreside.

A drive-sense circuit 28 (or multiple drive-sense circuits), aprocessing module (e.g., 41A), and a communication module (e.g., 61A)are within a common computing device. Each grouping of a drive-sensecircuit(s), processing module, and communication module is in a separatecomputing device. A communication module 61A-x is constructed inaccordance with one or more wired communication protocol and/or one ormore wireless communication protocols that is/are in accordance with theone or more of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model, theTransmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) model, andother communication protocol module.

In an example of operation, a processing module (e.g., 42A) provides acontrol signal to its corresponding drive-sense circuit 28. Theprocessing module 42 A may generate the control signal, receive it fromthe sensed data processing module 65, or receive an indication from thesensed data processing module 65 to generate the control signal. Thecontrol signal enables the drive-sense circuit 28 to provide a drivesignal to its corresponding sensor. The control signal may furtherinclude a reference signal having one or more frequency components tofacilitate creation of the drive signal and/or interpreting a sensedsignal received from the sensor.

Based on the control signal, the drive-sense circuit 28 provides thedrive signal to its corresponding sensor (e.g., 1) on a drive & senseline. While receiving the drive signal (e.g., a power signal, aregulated source signal, etc.), the sensor senses a physical condition1-x (e.g., acoustic waves, a biological condition, a chemical condition,an electric condition, a magnetic condition, an optical condition, athermal condition, and/or a mechanical condition). As a result of thephysical condition, an electrical characteristic (e.g., impedance,voltage, current, capacitance, inductance, resistance, reactance, etc.)of the sensor changes, which affects the drive signal. Note that if thesensor is an optical sensor, it converts a sensed optical condition intoan electrical characteristic.

The drive-sense circuit 28 detects the effect on the drive signal viathe drive & sense line and processes the affect to produce a signalrepresentative of power change, which may be an analog or digitalsignal. The processing module 42A receives the signal representative ofpower change, interprets it, and generates a value representing thesensed physical condition. For example, if the sensor is sensingpressure, the value representing the sensed physical condition is ameasure of pressure (e.g., x PSI (pounds per square inch)).

In accordance with a sensed data process function (e.g., algorithm,application, etc.), the sensed data processing module 65 gathers thevalues representing the sensed physical conditions from the processingmodules. Since the sensors 1-x may be the same type of sensor (e.g., apressure sensor), may each be different sensors, or a combinationthereof; the sensed physical conditions may be the same, may each bedifferent, or a combination thereof. The sensed data processing module65 processes the gathered values to produce one or more desired results.For example, if the computing subsystem 25 is monitoring pressure alonga pipeline, the processing of the gathered values indicates that thepressures are all within normal limits or that one or more of the sensedpressures is not within normal limits.

As another example, if the computing subsystem 25 is used in amanufacturing facility, the sensors are sensing a variety of physicalconditions, such as acoustic waves (e.g., for sound proofing, soundgeneration, ultrasound monitoring, etc.), a biological condition (e.g.,a bacterial contamination, etc.) a chemical condition (e.g.,composition, gas concentration, etc.), an electric condition (e.g.,current levels, voltage levels, electro-magnetic interference, etc.), amagnetic condition (e.g., induced current, magnetic field strength,magnetic field orientation, etc.), an optical condition (e.g., ambientlight, infrared, etc.), a thermal condition (e.g., temperature, etc.),and/or a mechanical condition (e.g., physical position, force, pressure,acceleration, etc.).

The computing subsystem 25 may further include one or more actuators inplace of one or more of the sensors and/or in addition to the sensors.When the computing subsystem 25 includes an actuator, the correspondingprocessing module provides an actuation control signal to thecorresponding drive-sense circuit 28. The actuation control signalenables the drive-sense circuit 28 to provide a drive signal to theactuator via a drive & actuate line (e.g., similar to the drive & senseline, but for the actuator). The drive signal includes one or morefrequency components and/or amplitude components to facilitate a desiredactuation of the actuator.

In addition, the computing subsystem 25 may include an actuator andsensor working in concert. For example, the sensor is sensing thephysical condition of the actuator. In this example, a drive-sensecircuit provides a drive signal to the actuator and another drive sensesignal provides the same drive signal, or a scaled version of it, to thesensor. This allows the sensor to provide near immediate and continuoussensing of the actuator's physical condition. This further allows forthe sensor to operate at a first frequency and the actuator to operateat a second frequency.

In an embodiment, the computing subsystem is a stand-alone system for awide variety of applications (e.g., manufacturing, pipelines, testing,monitoring, security, etc.). In another embodiment, the computingsubsystem 25 is one subsystem of a plurality of subsystems forming alarger system. For example, different subsystems are employed based ongeographic location. As a specific example, the computing subsystem 25is deployed in one section of a factory and another computing subsystemis deployed in another part of the factory. As another example,different subsystems are employed based function of the subsystems. As aspecific example, one subsystem monitors a city's traffic lightoperation and another subsystem monitors the city's sewage treatmentplants.

Regardless of the use and/or deployment of the computing system, thephysical conditions it is sensing, and/or the physical conditions it isactuating, each sensor and each actuator (if included) is driven andsensed by a single line as opposed to separate drive and sense lines.This provides many advantages including, but not limited to, lower powerrequirements, better ability to drive high impedance sensors, lower lineto line interference, and/or concurrent sensing functions.

FIG. 5B is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of acomputing subsystem 25 that includes a sensed data processing module 65,a communication module 61, a plurality of processing modules 42A-x, aplurality of drive sense circuits 28, and a plurality of sensors 1-x,which may be sensors 30 of FIG. 1 . The sensed data processing module 65is one or more processing modules within one or more servers 22 and/orone more processing modules in one or more computing devices that aredifferent than the computing device, devices, in which processingmodules 42A-x reside.

In an embodiment, the drive-sense circuits 28, the processing modules,and the communication module are within a common computing device. Forexample, the computing device includes a central processing unit thatincludes a plurality of processing modules. The functionality andoperation of the sensed data processing module 65, the communicationmodule 61, the processing modules 42A-x, the drive sense circuits 28,and the sensors 1-x are as discussed with reference to FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of acomputing subsystem 25 that includes a sensed data processing module 65,a communication module 61, a processing module 42, a plurality of drivesense circuits 28, and a plurality of sensors 1-x, which may be sensors30 of FIG. 1 . The sensed data processing module 65 is one or moreprocessing modules within one or more servers 22 and/or one moreprocessing modules in one or more computing devices that are differentthan the computing device in which the processing module 42 resides.

In an embodiment, the drive-sense circuits 28, the processing module,and the communication module are within a common computing device. Thefunctionality and operation of the sensed data processing module 65, thecommunication module 61, the processing module 42, the drive sensecircuits 28, and the sensors 1-x are as discussed with reference to FIG.5A.

FIG. 5D is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of acomputing subsystem 25 that includes a processing module 42, a referencesignal circuit 100, a plurality of drive sense circuits 28, and aplurality of sensors 30. The processing module 42 includes a drive-senseprocessing block 104, a drive-sense control block 102, and a referencecontrol block 106. Each block 102-106 of the processing module 42 may beimplemented via separate modules of the processing module, may be acombination of software and hardware within the processing module,and/or may be field programmable modules within the processing module42.

In an example of operation, the drive-sense control block 104 generatesone or more control signals to activate one or more of the drive-sensecircuits 28. For example, the drive-sense control block 102 generates acontrol signal that enables of the drive-sense circuits 28 for a givenperiod of time (e.g., 1 second, 1 minute, etc.). As another example, thedrive-sense control block 102 generates control signals to sequentiallyenable the drive-sense circuits 28. As yet another example, thedrive-sense control block 102 generates a series of control signals toperiodically enable the drive-sense circuits 28 (e.g., enabled onceevery second, every minute, every hour, etc.).

Continuing with the example of operation, the reference control block106 generates a reference control signal that it provides to thereference signal circuit 100. The reference signal circuit 100generates, in accordance with the control signal, one or more referencesignals for the drive-sense circuits 28. For example, the control signalis an enable signal, which, in response, the reference signal circuit100 generates a pre-programmed reference signal that it provides to thedrive-sense circuits 28. In another example, the reference signalcircuit 100 generates a unique reference signal for each of thedrive-sense circuits 28. In yet another example, the reference signalcircuit 100 generates a first unique reference signal for each of thedrive-sense circuits 28 in a first group and generates a second uniquereference signal for each of the drive-sense circuits 28 in a secondgroup.

The reference signal circuit 100 may be implemented in a variety ofways. For example, the reference signal circuit 100 includes a DC(direct current) voltage generator, an AC voltage generator, and avoltage combining circuit. The DC voltage generator generates a DCvoltage at a first level and the AC voltage generator generates an ACvoltage at a second level, which is less than or equal to the firstlevel. The voltage combining circuit combines the DC and AC voltages toproduce the reference signal. As examples, the reference signal circuit100 generates a reference signal similar to the signals shown in FIG. 7, which will be subsequently discussed.

As another example, the reference signal circuit 100 includes a DCcurrent generator, an AC current generator, and a current combiningcircuit. The DC current generator generates a DC current a first currentlevel and the AC current generator generates an AC current at a secondcurrent level, which is less than or equal to the first current level.The current combining circuit combines the DC and AC currents to producethe reference signal.

Returning to the example of operation, the reference signal circuit 100provides the reference signal, or signals, to the drive-sense circuits28. When a drive-sense circuit 28 is enabled via a control signal fromthe drive sense control block 102, it provides a drive signal to itscorresponding sensor 30. As a result of a physical condition, anelectrical characteristic of the sensor is changed, which affects thedrive signal. Based on the detected effect on the drive signal and thereference signal, the drive-sense circuit 28 generates a signalrepresentative of the effect on the drive signal.

The drive-sense circuit provides the signal representative of the effecton the drive signal to the drive-sense processing block 104. Thedrive-sense processing block 104 processes the representative signal toproduce a sensed value 97 of the physical condition (e.g., a digitalvalue that represents a specific temperature, a specific pressure level,etc.). The processing module 42 provides the sensed value 97 to anotherapplication running on the computing device, to another computingdevice, and/or to a server 22.

FIG. 5E is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of acomputing subsystem 25 that includes a processing module 42, a pluralityof drive sense circuits 28, and a plurality of sensors 30. Thisembodiment is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 5D with thefunctionality of the drive-sense processing block 104, a drive-sensecontrol block 102, and a reference control block 106 shown in greaterdetail. For instance, the drive-sense control block 102 includesindividual enable/disable blocks 102-1 through 102-y. An enable/disableblock functions to enable or disable a corresponding drive-sense circuitin a manner as discussed above with reference to FIG. 5D.

The drive-sense processing block 104 includes variance determiningmodules 104-1 a through y and variance interpreting modules 104-2 athrough y. For example, variance determining module 104-1 a receives,from the corresponding drive-sense circuit 28, a signal representativeof a physical condition sensed by a sensor. The variance determiningmodule 104-1 a functions to determine a difference from the signalrepresenting the sensed physical condition with a signal representing aknown, or reference, physical condition. The variance interpretingmodule 104-1 b interprets the difference to determine a specific valuefor the sensed physical condition.

As a specific example, the variance determining module 104-1 a receivesa digital signal of 1001 0110 (150 in decimal) that is representative ofa sensed physical condition (e.g., temperature) sensed by a sensor fromthe corresponding drive-sense circuit 28. With 8-bits, there are 2⁸(256) possible signals representing the sensed physical condition.Assume that the units for temperature is Celsius and a digital value of0100 0000 (64 in decimal) represents the known value for 25 degreeCelsius. The variance determining module 104-b 1 determines thedifference between the digital signal representing the sensed value(e.g., 1001 0110, 150 in decimal) and the known signal value of (e.g.,0100 0000, 64 in decimal), which is 0011 0000 (86 in decimal). Thevariance determining module 104-b 1 then determines the sensed valuebased on the difference and the known value. In this example, the sensedvalue equals 25+86*(100/256)=25+33.6=58.6 degrees Celsius.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a drive center circuit 28-acoupled to a sensor 30. The drive sense-sense circuit 28 includes apower source circuit 110 and a power signal change detection circuit112. The sensor 30 includes one or more transducers that have varyingelectrical characteristics (e.g., capacitance, inductance, impedance,current, voltage, etc.) based on varying physical conditions 114 (e.g.,pressure, temperature, biological, chemical, etc.), or vice versa (e.g.,an actuator).

The power source circuit 110 is operably coupled to the sensor 30 and,when enabled (e.g., from a control signal from the processing module 42,power is applied, a switch is closed, a reference signal is received,etc.) provides a power signal 116 to the sensor 30. The power sourcecircuit 110 may be a voltage supply circuit (e.g., a battery, a linearregulator, an unregulated DC-to-DC converter, etc.) to produce avoltage-based power signal, a current supply circuit (e.g., a currentsource circuit, a current mirror circuit, etc.) to produce acurrent-based power signal, or a circuit that provide a desired powerlevel to the sensor and substantially matches impedance of the sensor.The power source circuit 110 generates the power signal 116 to include aDC (direct current) component and/or an oscillating component.

When receiving the power signal 116 and when exposed to a condition 114,an electrical characteristic of the sensor affects 118 the power signal.When the power signal change detection circuit 112 is enabled, itdetects the affect 118 on the power signal as a result of the electricalcharacteristic of the sensor. For example, the power signal is a 1.5voltage signal and, under a first condition, the sensor draws 1 milliampof current, which corresponds to an impedance of 1.5 K Ohms. Under asecond conditions, the power signal remains at 1.5 volts and the currentincreases to 1.5 milliamps. As such, from condition 1 to condition 2,the impedance of the sensor changed from 1.5 K Ohms to 1 K Ohms. Thepower signal change detection circuit 112 determines this change andgenerates a representative signal 120 of the change to the power signal.

As another example, the power signal is a 1.5 voltage signal and, undera first condition, the sensor draws 1 milliamp of current, whichcorresponds to an impedance of 1.5 K Ohms. Under a second conditions,the power signal drops to 1.3 volts and the current increases to 1.3milliamps. As such, from condition 1 to condition 2, the impedance ofthe sensor changed from 1.5 K Ohms to 1 K Ohms. The power signal changedetection circuit 112 determines this change and generates arepresentative signal 120 of the change to the power signal.

The power signal 116 includes a DC component 122 and/or an oscillatingcomponent 124 as shown in FIG. 7 . The oscillating component 124includes a sinusoidal signal, a square wave signal, a triangular wavesignal, a multiple level signal (e.g., has varying magnitude over timewith respect to the DC component), and/or a polygonal signal (e.g., hasa symmetrical or asymmetrical polygonal shape with respect to the DCcomponent). Note that the power signal is shown without affect from thesensor as the result of a condition or changing condition.

In an embodiment, power generating circuit 110 varies frequency of theoscillating component 124 of the power signal 116 so that it can betuned to the impedance of the sensor and/or to be off-set in frequencyfrom other power signals in a system. For example, a capacitancesensor's impedance decreases with frequency. As such, if the frequencyof the oscillating component is too high with respect to thecapacitance, the capacitor looks like a short and variances incapacitances will be missed. Similarly, if the frequency of theoscillating component is too low with respect to the capacitance, thecapacitor looks like an open and variances in capacitances will bemissed.

In an embodiment, the power generating circuit 110 varies magnitude ofthe DC component 122 and/or the oscillating component 124 to improveresolution of sensing and/or to adjust power consumption of sensing. Inaddition, the power generating circuit 110 generates the drive signal110 such that the magnitude of the oscillating component 124 is lessthan magnitude of the DC component 122.

FIG. 6A is a schematic block diagram of a drive center circuit 28-a 1coupled to a sensor 30. The drive sense-sense circuit 28-a 1 includes asignal source circuit 111, a signal change detection circuit 113, and apower source 115. The power source 115 (e.g., a battery, a power supply,a current source, etc.) generates a voltage and/or current that iscombined with a signal 117, which is produced by the signal sourcecircuit 111. The combined signal is supplied to the sensor 30.

The signal source circuit 111 may be a voltage supply circuit (e.g., abattery, a linear regulator, an unregulated DC-to-DC converter, etc.) toproduce a voltage-based signal 117, a current supply circuit (e.g., acurrent source circuit, a current mirror circuit, etc.) to produce acurrent-based signal 117, or a circuit that provide a desired powerlevel to the sensor and substantially matches impedance of the sensor.The signal source circuit 111 generates the signal 117 to include a DC(direct current) component and/or an oscillating component.

When receiving the combined signal (e.g., signal 117 and power from thepower source) and when exposed to a condition 114, an electricalcharacteristic of the sensor affects 119 the signal. When the signalchange detection circuit 113 is enabled, it detects the affect 119 onthe signal as a result of the electrical characteristic of the sensor.

FIG. 8 is an example of a sensor graph that plots an electricalcharacteristic versus a condition. The sensor has a substantially linearregion in which an incremental change in a condition produces acorresponding incremental change in the electrical characteristic. Thegraph shows two types of electrical characteristics: one that increasesas the condition increases and the other that decreases and thecondition increases. As an example of the first type, impedance of atemperature sensor increases and the temperature increases. As anexample of a second type, a capacitance touch sensor decreases incapacitance as a touch is sensed.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of another example of a power signalgraph in which the electrical characteristic or change in electricalcharacteristic of the sensor is affecting the power signal. In thisexample, the effect of the electrical characteristic or change inelectrical characteristic of the sensor reduced the DC component but hadlittle to no effect on the oscillating component. For example, theelectrical characteristic is resistance. In this example, the resistanceor change in resistance of the sensor decreased the power signal,inferring an increase in resistance for a relatively constant current.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another example of a powersignal graph in which the electrical characteristic or change inelectrical characteristic of the sensor is affecting the power signal.In this example, the effect of the electrical characteristic or changein electrical characteristic of the sensor reduced magnitude of theoscillating component but had little to no effect on the DC component.For example, the electrical characteristic is impedance of a capacitorand/or an inductor. In this example, the impedance or change inimpedance of the sensor decreased the magnitude of the oscillatingsignal component, inferring an increase in impedance for a relativelyconstant current.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another example of a powersignal graph in which the electrical characteristic or change inelectrical characteristic of the sensor is affecting the power signal.In this example, the effect of the electrical characteristic or changein electrical characteristic of the sensor shifted frequency of theoscillating component but had little to no effect on the DC component.For example, the electrical characteristic is reactance of a capacitorand/or an inductor. In this example, the reactance or change inreactance of the sensor shifted frequency of the oscillating signalcomponent, inferring an increase in reactance (e.g., sensor isfunctioning as an integrator or phase shift circuit).

FIG. 11A is a schematic block diagram of another example of a powersignal graph in which the electrical characteristic or change inelectrical characteristic of the sensor is affecting the power signal.In this example, the effect of the electrical characteristic or changein electrical characteristic of the sensor changes the frequency of theoscillating component but had little to no effect on the DC component.For example, the sensor includes two transducers that oscillate atdifferent frequencies. The first transducer receives the power signal ata frequency of f₁ and converts it into a first physical condition. Thesecond transducer is stimulated by the first physical condition tocreate an electrical signal at a different frequency f₂. In thisexample, the first and second transducers of the sensor change thefrequency of the oscillating signal component, which allows for moregranular sensing and/or a broader range of sensing.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a power signalchange detection circuit 112 receiving the affected power signal 118 andthe power signal 116 as generated to produce, therefrom, the signalrepresentative 120 of the power signal change. The affect 118 on thepower signal is the result of an electrical characteristic and/or changein the electrical characteristic of a sensor; a few examples of theaffects are shown in FIGS. 8-11A.

In an embodiment, the power signal change detection circuit 112 detect achange in the DC component 122 and/or the oscillating component 124 ofthe power signal 116. The power signal change detection circuit 112 thengenerates the signal representative 120 of the change to the powersignal based on the change to the power signal. For example, the changeto the power signal results from the impedance of the sensor and/or achange in impedance of the sensor. The representative signal 120 isreflective of the change in the power signal and/or in the change in thesensor's impedance.

In an embodiment, the power signal change detection circuit 112 isoperable to detect a change to the oscillating component at a frequency,which may be a phase shift, frequency change, and/or change in magnitudeof the oscillating component. The power signal change detection circuit112 is also operable to generate the signal representative of the changeto the power signal based on the change to the oscillating component atthe frequency. The power signal change detection circuit 112 is furtheroperable to provide feedback to the power source circuit 110 regardingthe oscillating component. The feedback allows the power source circuit110 to regulate the oscillating component at the desired frequency,phase, and/or magnitude.

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a drivesense circuit 28-b includes a change detection circuit 150, a regulationcircuit 152, and a power source circuit 154. The drive-sense circuit28-b is coupled to the sensor 30, which includes a transducer that hasvarying electrical characteristics (e.g., capacitance, inductance,impedance, current, voltage, etc.) based on varying physical conditions114 (e.g., pressure, temperature, biological, chemical, etc.).

The power source circuit 154 is operably coupled to the sensor 30 and,when enabled (e.g., from a control signal from the processing module 42,power is applied, a switch is closed, a reference signal is received,etc.) provides a power signal 158 to the sensor 30. The power sourcecircuit 154 may be a voltage supply circuit (e.g., a battery, a linearregulator, an unregulated DC-to-DC converter, etc.) to produce avoltage-based power signal or a current supply circuit (e.g., a currentsource circuit, a current mirror circuit, etc.) to produce acurrent-based power signal. The power source circuit 154 generates thepower signal 158 to include a DC (direct current) component and anoscillating component.

When receiving the power signal 158 and when exposed to a condition 114,an electrical characteristic of the sensor affects 160 the power signal.When the change detection circuit 150 is enabled, it detects the affect160 on the power signal as a result of the electrical characteristic ofthe sensor 30. The change detection circuit 150 is further operable togenerate a signal 120 that is representative of change to the powersignal based on the detected effect on the power signal.

The regulation circuit 152, when its enabled, generates regulationsignal 156 to regulate the DC component to a desired DC level and/orregulate the oscillating component to a desired oscillating level (e.g.,magnitude, phase, and/or frequency) based on the signal 120 that isrepresentative of the change to the power signal. The power sourcecircuit 154 utilizes the regulation signal 156 to keep the power signalat a desired setting 158 regardless of the electrical characteristic ofthe sensor. In this manner, the amount of regulation is indicative ofthe affect the electrical characteristic had on the power signal.

In an example, the power source circuit 158 is a DC-DC converteroperable to provide a regulated power signal having DC and ACcomponents. The change detection circuit 150 is a comparator and theregulation circuit 152 is a pulse width modulator to produce theregulation signal 156. The comparator compares the power signal 158,which is affected by the sensor, with a reference signal that includesDC and AC components. When the electrical characteristics is at a firstlevel (e.g., a first impedance), the power signal is regulated toprovide a voltage and current such that the power signal substantiallyresembles the reference signal.

When the electrical characteristics changes to a second level (e.g., asecond impedance), the change detection circuit 150 detects a change inthe DC and/or AC component of the power signal 158 and generates therepresentative signal 120, which indicates the changes. The regulationcircuit 152 detects the change in the representative signal 120 andcreates the regulation signal to substantially remove the effect on thepower signal. The regulation of the power signal 158 may be done byregulating the magnitude of the DC and/or AC components, by adjustingthe frequency of AC component, and/or by adjusting the phase of the ACcomponent.

With respect to the operation of various drive-sense circuits asdescribed herein and/or their equivalents, note that the operation ofsuch a drive-sense circuit is operable simultaneously to drive and sensea signal via a single line. In comparison to switched, time-divided,time-multiplexed, etc. operation in which there is switching betweendriving and sensing (e.g., driving at first time, sensing at secondtime, etc.) of different respective signals at separate and distincttimes, the drive-sense circuit is operable simultaneously to performboth driving and sensing of a signal. In some examples, suchsimultaneous driving and sensing is performed via a single line using adrive-sense circuit.

In addition, other alternative implementations of various drive-sensecircuits (DSCs) are described in U.S. Utility patent application Ser.No. 16/113,379, entitled “DRIVE SENSE CIRCUIT WITH DRIVE-SENSE LINE,”,filed Aug. 27, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,099,032 on Aug. 24, 2021. Anyinstantiation of a drive-sense circuit as described herein may also beimplemented using any of the various implementations of variousdrive-sense circuits (DSCs) described in U.S. Utility patent applicationSer. No. 16/113,379.

In addition, note that the one or more signals provided from adrive-sense circuit (DSC) may be of any of a variety of types. Forexample, such a signal may be based on encoding of one or more bits togenerate one or more coded bits used to generate modulation data (orgenerally, data). For example, a device is configured to perform forwarderror correction (FEC) and/or error checking and correction (ECC) codeof one or more bits to generate one or more coded bits. Examples of FECand/or ECC may include turbo code, convolutional code, trellis codedmodulation (TCM), turbo trellis coded modulation (TTCM), low densityparity check (LDPC) code, Reed-Solomon (RS) code, BCH (Bose andRay-Chaudhuri, and Hocquenghem) code, binary convolutional code (BCC),Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC), and/or any other type of ECC and/or FECcode and/or combination thereof, etc. Note that more than one type ofECC and/or FEC code may be used in any of various implementationsincluding concatenation (e.g., first ECC and/or FEC code followed bysecond ECC and/or FEC code, etc. such as based on an inner code/outercode architecture, etc.), parallel architecture (e.g., such that firstECC and/or FEC code operates on first bits while second ECC and/or FECcode operates on second bits, etc.), and/or any combination thereof.

Also, the one or more coded bits may then undergo modulation or symbolmapping to generate modulation symbols (e.g., the modulation symbols mayinclude data intended for one or more recipient devices, components,elements, etc.). Note that such modulation symbols may be generatedusing any of various types of modulation coding techniques. Examples ofsuch modulation coding techniques may include binary phase shift keying(BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), 8-phase shift keying(PSK), 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), 32 amplitude and phaseshift keying (APSK), etc., uncoded modulation, and/or any other desiredtypes of modulation including higher ordered modulations that mayinclude even greater number of constellation points (e.g., 1024 QAM,etc.).

In addition, note that a signal provided from a DSC may be of a uniquefrequency that is different from signals provided from other DSCs. Also,a signal provided from a DSC may include multiple frequenciesindependently or simultaneously. The frequency of the signal can behopped on a pre-arranged pattern. In some examples, a handshake isestablished between one or more DSCs and one or more processing modules(e.g., one or more controllers) such that the one or more DSC is/aredirected by the one or more processing modules regarding which frequencyor frequencies and/or which other one or more characteristics of the oneor more signals to use at one or more respective times and/or in one ormore particular situations.

With respect to any signal that is driven and simultaneously detected bya DSC, note that any additional signal that is coupled into a line, anelectrode, a touch sensor, a bus, a communication link, a battery, aload, an electrical coupling or connection, etc. associated with thatDSC is also detectable. For example, a DSC that is associated with sucha line, an electrode, a touch sensor, a bus, a communication link, aload, an electrical coupling or connection, etc. is configured to detectany signal from one or more other lines, electrodes, touch sensors,buses, communication links, loads, electrical couplings or connections,etc. that get coupled into that line, electrode, touch sensor, bus,communication link, load, electrical coupling or connection, etc.

Note that the different respective signals that are driven andsimultaneously sensed by one or more DSCs may be differentiated from oneanother. Appropriate filtering and processing can identify the varioussignals given their differentiation, orthogonality to one another,difference in frequency, etc. Other examples described herein and theirequivalents operate using any of a number of different characteristicsother than or in addition to frequency.

Moreover, with respect to any embodiment, diagram, example, etc. thatincludes more than one DSC, note that the DSCs may be implemented in avariety of manners. For example, all of the DSCs may be of the sametype, implementation, configuration, etc. In another example, the firstDSC may be of a first type, implementation, configuration, etc., and asecond DSC may be of a second type, implementation, configuration, etc.that is different than the first DSC. Considering a specific example, afirst DSC may be implemented to detect change of impedance associatedwith a line, an electrode, a touch sensor, a bus, a communication link,an electrical coupling or connection, etc. associated with that firstDSC, while a second DSC may be implemented to detect change of voltageassociated with a line, an electrode, a touch sensor, a bus, acommunication link, an electrical coupling or connection, etc.associated with that second DSC. In addition, note that a third DSC maybe implemented to detect change of a current associated with a line, anelectrode, a touch sensor, a bus, a communication link, an electricalcoupling or connection, etc. associated with that DSC. In general, whilea common reference may be used generally to show a DSC or multipleinstantiations of a DSC within a given embodiment, diagram, example,etc., note that any particular DSC may be implemented in accordance withany manner as described herein, such as described in U.S. Utility patentapplication Ser. No. 16/113,379, etc. and/or their equivalents.

Note that certain of the following diagrams show a computing device(e.g., alternatively referred to as device; the terms computing deviceand device may be used interchangeably) that may include or be coupledto one or more processing modules. In certain instances, the one or moreprocessing modules is configured to communicate with and interact withone or more other devices including one or more of DSCs, one or morecomponents associated with a DSC, one or more components associated witha display, a touch sensor device that may or may not include displayfunctionality (e.g., a touchscreen display with sensors, a panel withoutdisplay functionality that includes one or more sensors, etc., one ormore other components associated with a display, a touchscreen displaywith sensors, or generally a touch sensor device that may or may notinclude display functionality, etc.) Note that any such implementationof one or more processing modules may include integrated memory and/orbe coupled to other memory. At least some of the memory storesoperational instructions to be executed by the one or more processingmodules. In addition, note that the one or more processing modules mayinterface with one or more other computing devices, components,elements, etc. via one or more communication links, networks,communication pathways, channels, etc. (e.g., such as via one or morecommunication interfaces of the computing device, such as may beintegrated into the one or more processing modules or be implemented asa separate component, circuitry, etc.).

In addition, when a DSC is implemented to communicate with and interactwith another element, the DSC is configured simultaneously to transmitand receive one or more signals with the element. For example, a DSC isconfigured simultaneously to sense and to drive one or more signals tothe one element. During transmission of a signal from a DSC, that sameDSC is configured simultaneously to sense the signal being transmittedfrom the DSC and any other signal may be coupled into the signal that isbeing transmitted from the DSC.

FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 1400 of atouchscreen display in accordance with the present invention. thisdiagram includes a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of atouchscreen display 80 that includes a plurality of drive-sense circuits(DSCs), a touchscreen processing module 82, a display 83, and aplurality of electrodes 85 (e.g., the electrodes operate as the sensorsor sensor components into which touch and/or proximity may be detectedin the touchscreen display 80). The touchscreen display 80 is coupled toa processing module 42, a video graphics processing module 48, and adisplay interface 93, which are components of a computing device (e.g.,one or more of computing devices 14-18), an interactive display, orother device that includes a touchscreen display. An interactive displayfunctions to provide users with an interactive experience (e.g., touchthe screen to obtain information, be entertained, etc.). For example, astore provides interactive displays for customers to find certainproducts, to obtain coupons, to enter contests, etc.

In some examples, note that display functionality and touchscreenfunctionality are both provided by a combined device that may bereferred to as a touchscreen display with sensors 80. However, in otherexamples, note that touchscreen functionality and display functionalityare provided by separate devices, namely, the display 83 and atouchscreen that is implemented separately from the display 83.Generally speaking, different implementations may include displayfunctionality and touchscreen functionality within a combined devicesuch as a touchscreen display with sensors 80, or separately using adisplay 83 and a touchscreen.

There are a variety of other devices that may be implemented to includea touchscreen display. For example, a vending machine includes atouchscreen display to select and/or pay for an item. Another example ofa device having a touchscreen display is an Automated Teller Machine(ATM). As yet another example, an automobile includes a touchscreendisplay for entertainment media control, navigation, climate control,etc.

The touchscreen display 80 includes a large display 83 that has aresolution equal to or greater than full high-definition (HD), an aspectratio of a set of aspect ratios, and a screen size equal to or greaterthan thirty-two inches. The following table lists various combinationsof resolution, aspect ratio, and screen size for the display 83, butit's not an exhaustive list. Other screen sizes, resolutions, aspectratios, etc. may be implemented within other various displays.

Width Height pixel aspect screen aspect Resolution (lines) (lines) ratioratio screen size (inches) HD (high 1280 720 1:1 16:9 32, 40, 43, 50,55, 60, 65, definition) 70, 75, and/or >80 Full HD 1920 1080 1:1 16:932, 40, 43, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, and/or >80 HD 960 720 4:3 16:9 32,40, 43, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, and/or >80 HD 1440 1080 4:3 16:9 32, 40,43, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, and/or >80 HD 1280 1080 3:2 16:9 32, 40, 43,50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, and/or >80 QHD (quad 2560 1440 1:1 16:9 32, 40,43, 50, 55, 60, 65, HD) 70, 75, and/or >80 UHD (Ultra 3840 2160 1:1 16:932, 40, 43, 50, 55, 60, 65, HD) or 4K 70, 75, and/or >80 8K 7680 43201:1 16:9 32, 40, 43, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, and/or >80 HD and1280->=7680 720->=4320 1:1, 2:3, etc.  2:3 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, aboveand/or >80

The display 83 is one of a variety of types of displays that is operableto render frames of data into visible images. For example, the displayis one or more of: a light emitting diode (LED) display, anelectroluminescent display (ELD), a plasma display panel (PDP), a liquidcrystal display (LCD), an LCD high performance addressing (HPA) display,an LCD thin film transistor (TFT) display, an organic light emittingdiode (OLED) display, a digital light processing (DLP) display, asurface conductive electron emitter (SED) display, a field emissiondisplay (FED), a laser TV display, a carbon nanotubes display, a quantumdot display, an interferometric modulator display (IMOD), and a digitalmicroshutter display (DMS). The display is active in a full display modeor a multiplexed display mode (i.e., only part of the display is activeat a time).

The display 83 further includes integrated electrodes 85 that providethe sensors for the touch sense part of the touchscreen display. Theelectrodes 85 are distributed throughout the display area or wheretouchscreen functionality is desired. For example, a first group of theelectrodes are arranged in rows and a second group of electrodes arearranged in columns. As will be discussed in greater detail withreference to one or more of FIGS. 18, 19, 20, and 21 , the rowelectrodes are separated from the column electrodes by a dielectricmaterial.

The electrodes 85 are comprised of a transparent conductive material andare in-cell or on-cell with respect to layers of the display. Forexample, a conductive trace is placed in-cell or on-cell of a layer ofthe touchscreen display. The transparent conductive material, which issubstantially transparent and has negligible effect on video quality ofthe display with respect to the human eye. For instance, an electrode isconstructed from one or more of: Indium Tin Oxide, Graphene, CarbonNanotubes, Thin Metal Films, Silver Nanowires Hybrid Materials,Aluminum-doped Zinc Oxide (AZO), Amorphous Indium-Zinc Oxide,Gallium-doped Zinc Oxide (GZO), and poly polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT).

In an example of operation, the processing module 42 is executing anoperating system application 89 and one or more user applications 91.The user applications 91 includes, but is not limited to, a videoplayback application, a spreadsheet application, a word processingapplication, a computer aided drawing application, a photo displayapplication, an image processing application, a database application,etc. While executing an application 91, the processing module generatesdata for display (e.g., video data, image data, text data, etc.). Theprocessing module 42 sends the data to the video graphics processingmodule 48, which converts the data into frames of video 87 a.

The video graphics processing module 48 sends the frames of video 87 a(e.g., frames of a video file, refresh rate for a word processingdocument, a series of images, etc.) to the display interface 93. Thedisplay interface 93 provides the frames of video to the display 83,which renders the frames of video into visible images.

In certain examples, one or more images are displayed so as tofacilitate communication of data from a first computing device to asecond computing device via a user. For example, one or more images aredisplayed on the touchscreen display with sensors 80, and when a user isin contact with the one or more images that are displayed on thetouchscreen display with sensors 80, one or more signals that areassociated with the one or more images are coupled via the user toanother computing device. In some examples, the touchscreen display withsensors 80 is implemented within a portable device, such as a cellphone, a smart phone, a tablet, and/or any other such device thatincludes a touching display with sensors 80. Also, in some examples,note that the computing device that is displaying one or more imagesthat are coupled via the user to another computing device does notinclude a touchscreen display with sensors 80, but merely a display thatis implemented to display one or more images. In accordance withoperation of the display, whether implemented as it display alone for atouchscreen display with sensors, as the one or more images aredisplayed, and when the user is in contact with the display (e.g., suchas touching the one or more images with a digit of a hand, such asfound, fingers, etc.) or is was within sufficient proximity tofacilitate coupling of one or more signals that are associated with alot of images, then the signals are coupled via the user to anothercomputing device.

When the display 83 is implemented as a touchscreen display with sensors80, while the display 83 is rendering the frames of video into visibleimages, the drive-sense circuits (DSC) provide sensor signals to theelectrodes 85. When the touchscreen (e.g., which may alternatively bereferred to as screen) is touched, capacitance of the electrodes 85proximal to the touch (i.e., directly or close by) is changed. The DSCsdetect the capacitance change for affected electrodes and provide thedetected change to the touchscreen processing module 82.

The touchscreen processing module 82 processes the capacitance change ofthe effected electrodes to determine one or more specific locations oftouch and provides this information to the processing module 42.Processing module 42 processes the one or more specific locations oftouch to determine if an operation of the application is to be altered.For example, the touch is indicative of a pause command, a fast forwardcommand, a reverse command, an increase volume command, a decreasevolume command, a stop command, a select command, a delete command, etc.

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 1500 of atouchscreen display in accordance with the present invention. Thisdiagram includes a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of atouchscreen display 80 that includes a plurality of drive-sense circuits(DSC), the processing module 42, a display 83, and a plurality ofelectrodes 85. The processing module 42 is executing an operating system89 and one or more user applications 91 to produce frames of data 87 a.The processing module 42 provides the frames of data 87 a to the displayinterface 93. The touchscreen display 80 operates similarly to thetouchscreen display 80 of FIG. 14 with the above noted differences.

FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 1600 of a touchsensor device in accordance with the present invention. Note that atouch sensor device may or may not include display functionality. Forexample, one example of a touch sensor device includes a touchscreendisplay (e.g., such as described with respect to FIG. 14 or FIG. 15 ).Alternatively, a touch sensor device may include touch sensorfunctionality without including display functionality. In this diagram,an alternative example of a touch sensor device, namely, touch sensordevice 1610, includes sensor 80 but with no display functionality.Generally speaking, any reference to a touch sensor device herein may beused to refer to a touch sensor device that may or may not includedisplay functionality (e.g., a touchscreen display or a touch sensordevice such as touch sensor device 1610 that does not include displayfunctionality). This diagram is similar to FIG. 14 with at least somedifferences being that this diagram includes a touch sensor device 1610with sensors 80. The touch sensor device 1610 of this diagram includes apanel 1612 (e.g., that includes embedded/integrated electrodes 85) thatfacilitates touch sensor functionality. However, the touch sensor device1610 of this diagram does not include display functionality and does notinclude a video graphics processing module 48 or a display interface 93as does FIG. 14 . In addition, the touchscreen processing module 82 ofFIG. 14 , which may include and/or be coupled to memory, is replaced inFIG. 16 by a touch sensor device processing module 1642, which mayinclude and/or be coupled to memory.

The touch sensor device processing module 1642 operates similarly to thetouchscreen processing module 82 of FIG. 14 with respect to touchrelated functionality yet with at least some differences being that thetouch sensor device processing module 1642 does not particularly operatein accordance with display related functionality. For example, the touchsensor device 1610 includes a panel 1612, a plurality of sensors (e.g.,shows as electrodes 85 in the diagram), a plurality of drive-sensecircuits (DSCs), and the touch sensor device processing module 1642. Thetouch sensor device 1610 includes a plurality of sensors (e.g.,electrodes 85, capacitor sensing cells, capacitor sensors, inductivesensor, etc.) to detect a proximal touch of the panel 1612. For example,when one or more fingers, styluses, other components, etc. touches thescreen, capacitance of sensors proximal to the touch(es) are affected(e.g., impedance changes). The drive-sense circuits (DSC) coupled to theaffected sensors detect the change and provide a representation of thechange to the touch sensor device processing module 1642, which may be aseparate processing module or integrated into the processing module 42.

The touch sensor device processing module 1642 processes therepresentative signals from the drive-sense circuits (DSC) to determinethe location of the touch(es). This information is inputted to theprocessing module 42 for processing as an input. For example, a touchrepresents a selection of a location on the panel 1612, a motion on thepanel 1612, a gesture of a user with respect to the panel 1612, etc.

FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 1700 of atouch sensor device in accordance with the present invention. Thisdiagram has some similarities to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 . In this diagram,the functionality from a touch sensor device processing module 1642,which may include or be coupled to memory, such as with respect to FIG.16 , is integrated into the processing module 42, which may include orbe coupled to memory. The processing module 42 facilitates touch relatedfunctionality without specifically supporting display relatedfunctionality.

Note that while many of the examples of electrode alignment within apanel or touchscreen display show the electrodes as being aligned withrespect to rows and columns, any other desired configuration ofelectrodes may alternatively be made. For example, electrodes may bearranged angularly such as a first set of electrodes are implemented asextending from upper left to lower right of the panel or touch screendisplay and a second set of electrodes are implemented as extending fromupper right to lower left of the panel or touchscreen display. Generallyspeaking, any desired configuration and implementation of electrodearrangement within such a panel or touchscreen display may beimplemented within any such device as described here including variousaspects, embodiments, and/or examples of the invention (and/or theirequivalents).

FIG. 18A is a logic diagram of an embodiment of a method 1801 forsensing a touch on a touchscreen display in accordance with the presentinvention. This diagram includes a logic diagram of an embodiment of amethod 1801 for execution by one or more computing devices for sensing atouch on a touchscreen display that is executed by one or moreprocessing modules of one or various types (e.g., 42, 82, and/or 48 ofthe previous figures). The method 1801 begins at step 1800 where theprocessing module generate a control signal (e.g., power enable,operation enable, etc.) to enable a drive-sense circuit to monitor thesensor signal on the electrode. The processing module generatesadditional control signals to enable other drive-sense circuits tomonitor their respective sensor signals. In an example, the processingmodule enables all of the drive-sense circuits for continuous sensingfor touches of the screen. In another example, the processing moduleenables a first group of drive-sense circuits coupled to a first groupof row electrodes and enables a second group of drive-sense circuitscoupled to a second group of column electrodes.

The method 1801 continues at step 1802 where the processing modulereceives a representation of the impedance on the electrode from adrive-sense circuit. In general, the drive-sense circuit provides adrive signal to the electrode. The impedance of the electrode affectsthe drive signal. The effect on the drive signal is interpreted by thedrive-sense circuit to produce the representation of the impedance ofthe electrode. The processing module does this with each activateddrive-sense circuit in serial, in parallel, or in a serial-parallelmanner.

The method 1801 continues at step 1804 where the processing moduleinterprets the representation of the impedance on the electrode todetect a change in the impedance of the electrode. A change in theimpedance is indicative of a touch. For example, an increase inself-capacitance (e.g., the capacitance of the electrode with respect toa reference (e.g., ground, etc.)) is indicative of a touch on theelectrode of a user or other element. As another example, a decrease inmutual capacitance (e.g., the capacitance between a row electrode and acolumn electrode) is also indicative of a touch and/or presence of auser or other element near the electrodes. The processing module doesthis for each representation of the impedance of the electrode itreceives. Note that the representation of the impedance is a digitalvalue, an analog signal, an impedance value, and/or any other analog ordigital way of representing a sensor's impedance.

The method 1801 continues at step 1806 where the processing moduleinterprets the change in the impedance to indicate a touch and/orpresence of a user or other element of the touchscreen display in anarea corresponding to the electrode. For each change in impedancedetected, the processing module indicates a touch and/or presence of auser or other element. Further processing may be done to determine ifthe touch is a desired touch or an undesired touch.

FIG. 18B is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 1802 of a drivesense circuit in accordance with the present invention. this diagramincludes a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a drive sensecircuit 28-18 that includes a first conversion circuit 1810 and a secondconversion circuit 1812. The first conversion circuit 1810 converts anelectrode signal 1816 (alternatively a sensor signal, such as when theelectrode 85 includes a sensor, etc.) into a signal 1820 that isrepresentative of the electrode signal and/or change thereof (e.g., notethat such a signal may alternatively be referred to as a sensor signal,a signal representative of a sensor signal and or change thereof, etc.such as when the electrode 85 includes a sensor, etc.). The secondconversion circuit 1812 generates the drive signal component 1814 fromthe sensed signal 1812. As an example, the first conversion circuit 1810functions to keep the electrode signal 1816 substantially constant(e.g., substantially matching a reference signal) by creating the signal1820 to correspond to changes in a receive signal component 1818 of thesensor signal. The second conversion circuit 1812 functions to generatea drive signal component 1814 of the sensor signal based on the signal1820 substantially to compensate for changes in the receive signalcomponent 1818 such that the electrode signal 1816 remains substantiallyconstant.

In an example, the electrode signal 1816 (e.g., which may be viewed as apower signal, a drive signal, a sensor signal, etc. such as inaccordance with other examples, embodiments, diagrams, etc. herein) isprovided to the electrode 85 as a regulated current signal. Theregulated current (I) signal in combination with the impedance (Z) ofthe electrode creates an electrode voltage (V), where V=I*Z. As theimpedance (Z) of electrode changes, the regulated current (I) signal isadjusted to keep the electrode voltage (V) substantially unchanged. Toregulate the current signal, the first conversion circuit 1810 adjuststhe signal 1820 based on the receive signal component 1818, which isindicative of the impedance of the electrode and change thereof. Thesecond conversion circuit 1812 adjusts the regulated current based onthe changes to the signal 1820.

As another example, the electrode signal 1816 is provided to theelectrode 85 as a regulated voltage signal. The regulated voltage (V)signal in combination with the impedance (Z) of the electrode creates anelectrode current (I), where I=V/Z. As the impedance (Z) of electrodechanges, the regulated voltage (V) signal is adjusted to keep theelectrode current (I) substantially unchanged. To regulate the voltagesignal, the first conversion circuit 1810 adjusts the signal 1820 basedon the receive signal component 1818, which is indicative of theimpedance of the electrode and change thereof. The second conversioncircuit 1812 adjusts the regulated voltage based on the changes to thesignal 1820.

FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 1900 of adrive sense circuit in accordance with the present invention. thisdiagram includes a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of adrive sense circuit 28 that includes a first conversion circuit 1810 anda second conversion circuit 1812. The first conversion circuit 1810includes a comparator (comp) and an analog to digital converter 1930.The second conversion circuit 1812 includes a digital to analogconverter 1932, a signal source circuit 1933, and a driver.

In an example of operation, the comparator compares the electrode signal1816 (alternatively, a sensor signal, etc.) to an analog referencesignal 1922 to produce an analog comparison signal 1924. The analogreference signal 1924 includes a DC component and/or an oscillatingcomponent. As such, the electrode signal 1816 will have a substantiallymatching DC component and/or oscillating component. An example of ananalog reference signal 1922 is also described in greater detail withreference to FIG. 7 such as with respect to a power signal graph.

The analog to digital converter 1930 converts the analog comparisonsignal 1924 into the signal 1820. The analog to digital converter (ADC)1930 may be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, the (ADC)1930 is one of: a flash ADC, a successive approximation ADC, aramp-compare ADC, a Wilkinson ADC, an integrating ADC, a delta encodedADC, and/or a sigma-delta ADC. The digital to analog converter (DAC)1932 may be a sigma-delta DAC, a pulse width modulator DAC, a binaryweighted DAC, a successive approximation DAC, and/or a thermometer-codedDAC.

The digital to analog converter (DAC) 1932 converts the signal 1820 intoan analog feedback signal 1926. The signal source circuit 1933 (e.g., adependent current source, a linear regulator, a DC-DC power supply,etc.) generates a regulated source signal 1935 (e.g., a regulatedcurrent signal or a regulated voltage signal) based on the analogfeedback signal 1926. The driver increases power of the regulated sourcesignal 1935 to produce the drive signal component 1814.

FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 2000 of a DSC thatis interactive with an electrode in accordance with the presentinvention. Similar to other diagrams, examples, embodiments, etc.herein, the DSC 28-a 2 of this diagram is in communication with one ormore processing modules 42. The DSC 28-a 2 is configured to provide asignal (e.g., a power signal, an electrode signal, transmit signal, amonitoring signal, etc.) to the electrode 85 via a single line andsimultaneously to sense that signal via the single line. In someexamples, sensing the signal includes detection of an electricalcharacteristic of the electrode that is based on a response of theelectrode 85 to that signal. Examples of such an electricalcharacteristic may include detection of an impedance of the electrode 85such as a change of capacitance of the electrode 85, detection of one ormore signals coupled into the electrode 85 such as from one or moreother electrodes, and/or other electrical characteristics. In addition,note that the electrode 85 may be implemented in a capacitive imagingglove in certain examples.

In some examples, the DSC 28-a 2 is configured to provide the signal tothe electrode to perform any one or more of capacitive imaging of anelement (e.g., such as a glove, sock, a bodysuit, or any portion of acapacitive imaging component associated with the user and/or operativeto be worn and/or used by a user) that includes the electrode (e.g.,such as a capacitive imaging glove, a capacitive imaging sock, acapacitive imaging bodysuit, or any portion of a capacitive imagingcomponent associated with the user and/or operative to be worn and/orused by a user), digit movement detection such as based on a competitiveimaging glove, inter-digit movement detection such as based on acompetitive imaging glove, movement detection within a three-dimensional(3-D) space, and/or other purpose(s).

This embodiment of a DSC 28-a 2 includes a current source 110-1 and apower signal change detection circuit 112-a 1. The power signal changedetection circuit 112-a 1 includes a power source reference circuit 130and a comparator 132. The current source 110-1 may be an independentcurrent source, a dependent current source, a current mirror circuit,etc.

In an example of operation, the power source reference circuit 130provides a current reference 134 with DC and oscillating components tothe current source 110-1. The current source generates a current as thepower signal 116 based on the current reference 134. An electricalcharacteristic of the electrode 85 has an effect on the current powersignal 116. For example, if the impedance of the electrode 85 decreasesand the current power signal 116 remains substantially unchanged, thevoltage across the electrode 85 is decreased.

The comparator 132 compares the current reference 134 with the affectedpower signal 118 to produce the signal 120 that is representative of thechange to the power signal. For example, the current reference signal134 corresponds to a given current (I) times a given impedance (Z). Thecurrent reference generates the power signal to produce the givencurrent (I). If the impedance of the electrode 85 substantially matchesthe given impedance (Z), then the comparator's output is reflective ofthe impedances substantially matching. If the impedance of the electrode85 is greater than the given impedance (Z), then the comparator's outputis indicative of how much greater the impedance of the electrode 85 isthan that of the given impedance (Z). If the impedance of the electrode85 is less than the given impedance (Z), then the comparator's output isindicative of how much less the impedance of the electrode 85 is thanthat of the given impedance (Z).

FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 2100 of a DSCthat is interactive with an electrode in accordance with the presentinvention. Similar to other diagrams, examples, embodiments, etc.herein, the DSC 28-a 3 of this diagram is in communication with one ormore processing modules 42. Similar to the previous diagram, althoughproviding a different embodiment of the DSC, the DSC 28-a 3 isconfigured to provide a signal to the electrode 85 via a single line andsimultaneously to sense that signal via the single line. In someexamples, sensing the signal includes detection of an electricalcharacteristic of the electrode 85 that is based on a response of theelectrode 85 to that signal. Examples of such an electricalcharacteristic may include detection of an impedance of the electrode 85such as a change of capacitance of the electrode 85, detection of one ormore signals coupled into the electrode 85 such as from one or moreother electrodes, and/or other electrical characteristics. In addition,note that the electrode 85 may be implemented in a capacitive imagingglove in certain examples.

This embodiment of a DSC 28-a 3 includes a voltage source 110-2 and apower signal change detection circuit 112-a 2. The power signal changedetection circuit 112-a 2 includes a power source reference circuit130-2 and a comparator 132-2. The voltage source 110-2 may be a battery,a linear regulator, a DC-DC converter, etc.

In an example of operation, the power source reference circuit 130-2provides a voltage reference 136 with DC and oscillating components tothe voltage source 110-2. The voltage source generates a voltage as thepower signal 116 based on the voltage reference 136. An electricalcharacteristic of the electrode 85 has an effect on the voltage powersignal 116. For example, if the impedance of the electrode 85 decreasesand the voltage power signal 116 remains substantially unchanged, thecurrent through the electrode 85 is increased.

The comparator 132 compares the voltage reference 136 with the affectedpower signal 118 to produce the signal 120 that is representative of thechange to the power signal. For example, the voltage reference signal134 corresponds to a given voltage (V) divided by a given impedance (Z).The voltage reference generates the power signal to produce the givenvoltage (V). If the impedance of the electrode 85 substantially matchesthe given impedance (Z), then the comparator's output is reflective ofthe impedances substantially matching. If the impedance of the electrode85 is greater than the given impedance (Z), then the comparator's outputis indicative of how much greater the impedance of the electrode 85 isthan that of the given impedance (Z). If the impedance of the electrode85 is less than the given impedance (Z), then the comparator's output isindicative of how much less the impedance of the electrode 85 is thanthat of the given impedance (Z).

With respect to many of the following diagrams, one or more processingmodules 42, which includes and/or is coupled to memory, is configured tocommunicate and interact with one or more DSCs 28 the coupled to one ormore electrodes of the panel or a touchscreen display. In many of thediagrams, the DSCs 28 are shown as interfacing with electrodes of thepanel or touchscreen display (e.g., via interface 86 that couples to rowelectrodes and interface 87 that couples to column electrodes). Notethat the number of lines that coupled the one or more processing modules42 to the respective one or more DSCs 28, and from the one or more DSCs28 to the respective interfaces 86 and 87 may be varied, as shown by nand m, which are positive integers greater than or equal to 1. Otherdiagrams also show different values, such as o, p, etc., which are alsopositive integers greater than or equal to 1. Note that the respectivevalues may be the same or different within different respectiveembodiments and/or examples herein.

Note that the same and/or different respective signals may be drivensimultaneously sensed by the respective one or more DSCs 28 that coupleto electrodes 85 within any of the various embodiments and/or examplesherein. In some examples, a common signal (e.g., having common one ormore characteristics) is implemented in accordance with self signaling,and different respective signals (e.g., different respective signalshaving one or more different characteristics) are implemented inaccordance with mutual signaling as described below.

For example, note that the different respective signals that are drivenand simultaneously sensed via the electrodes 85 may be differentiatedfrom one another. For example, appropriate filtering and processing canidentify the various signals given their differentiation, orthogonalityto one another, difference in frequency, etc. Note that thedifferentiation among the different respective signals that are drivenand simultaneously sensed by the various DSCs 28 may be differentiatedbased on any one or more characteristics such as frequency, amplitude,modulation, modulation & coding set/rate (MCS), forward error correction(FEC) and/or error checking and correction (ECC), type, etc.

Other examples described herein and their equivalents operate using anyof a number of different characteristics other than or in addition tofrequency. Differentiation between the signals based on frequencycorresponds to a first signal has a first frequency and a second signalhas a second frequency different than the first frequency.Differentiation between the signals based on amplitude corresponds to athat if first signal has a first amplitude and a second signal has asecond amplitude different than the first amplitude. Note that theamplitude may be a fixed amplitude for a DC signal or the oscillatingamplitude component for a signal having both a DC offset and anoscillating component. Differentiation between the signals based on DCoffset corresponds to a that if first signal has a first DC offset and asecond signal has a second DC offset different than the first DC offset.

Differentiation between the signals based on modulation and/ormodulation & coding set/rate (MCS) corresponds to a first signal has afirst modulation and/or MCS and a second signal has a second modulationand/or MCS different than the first modulation and/or MCS. Examples ofmodulation and/or MCS may include binary phase shift keying (BPSK),quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation(QAM), 8-phase shift keying (PSK), 16 quadrature amplitude modulation(QAM), 32 amplitude and phase shift keying (APSK), 64-QAM, etc., uncodedmodulation, and/or any other desired types of modulation includinghigher ordered modulations that may include even greater number ofconstellation points (e.g., 1024 QAM, etc.). For example, a first signalmay be of a QAM modulation, and the second signal may be of a 32 APSKmodulation. In an alternative example, a first signal may be of a firstQAM modulation such that the constellation points there and have a firstlabeling/mapping, and the second signal may be of a second QAMmodulation such that the constellation points there and have a secondlabeling/mapping.

Differentiation between the signals based on FEC/ECC corresponds to afirst signal being generated, coded, and/or based on a first FEC/ECC anda second signal being generated, coded, and/or based on a second FEC/ECCthat is different than the first modulation and/or first FEC/ECC.Examples of FEC and/or ECC may include turbo code, convolutional code,turbo trellis coded modulation (TTCM), low density parity check (LDPC)code, Reed-Solomon (RS) code, BCH (Bose and Ray-Chaudhuri, andHocquenghem) code, binary convolutional code (BCC), Cyclic RedundancyCheck (CRC), and/or any other type of ECC and/or FEC code and/orcombination thereof, etc. Note that more than one type of ECC and/or FECcode may be used in any of various implementations includingconcatenation (e.g., first ECC and/or FEC code followed by second ECCand/or FEC code, etc. such as based on an inner code/outer codearchitecture, etc.), parallel architecture (e.g., such that first ECCand/or FEC code operates on first bits while second ECC and/or FEC codeoperates on second bits, etc.), and/or any combination thereof. Forexample, a first signal may be generated, coded, and/or based on a firstLDPC code, and the second signal may be generated, coded, and/or basedon a second LDPC code. In an alternative example, a first signal may begenerated, coded, and/or based on a BCH code, and the second signal maybe generated, coded, and/or based on a turbo code. Differentiationbetween the different respective signals may be made based on a similartype of FEC/ECC, using different characteristics of the FEC/ECC (e.g.,codeword length, redundancy, matrix size, etc. as may be appropriatewith respect to the particular type of FEC/ECC). Alternatively,differentiation between the different respective signals may be madebased on using different types of FEC/ECC for the different respectivesignals.

Differentiation between the signals based on type corresponds to a firstsignal being or a first type and a second signal being of a secondgenerated, coded, and/or based on a second type that is different thanthe first type. Examples of different types of signals include asinusoidal signal, a square wave signal, a triangular wave signal, amultiple level signal, a polygonal signal, a DC signal, etc. Forexample, a first signal may be of a sinusoidal signal type, and thesecond signal may be of a DC signal type. In an alternative example, afirst signal may be of a first sinusoidal signal type having firstsinusoidal characteristics (e.g., first frequency, first amplitude,first DC offset, first phase, etc.), and the second signal may be ofsecond sinusoidal signal type having second sinusoidal characteristics(e.g., second frequency, second amplitude, second DC offset, secondphase, etc.) that is different than the first sinusoidal signal type.

Note that any implementation that differentiates the signals based onone or more characteristics may be used in this and other embodiments,examples, and their equivalents.

In addition, within this diagram above as well as any other diagramdescribed herein, or their equivalents, the one or electrodes 85 (e.g.,touch sensor electrodes such as may be implemented within a deviceoperative to facilitate sensing of touch, proximity, gesture, etc.) maybe of any of a variety of one or more types including any one or more ofa touch sensor device, a touch sensor element (e.g., including one ormore touch sensors with or without display functionality), a touchscreendisplay including both touch sensor and display functionality, a button,an electrode, an external controller, one or more rows of electrodes,one or more columns of electrodes, a matrix of buttons, an array ofbuttons, a film that includes any desired implementation of componentsto facilitate touch sensor operation, and/or any other configuration bywhich interaction with the touch sensor may be performed.

Note that the one or more electrodes 85 may be implemented within any ofa variety of devices including any one or more of a touchscreen, a paddevice, a laptop, a cell phone, a smartphone, a whiteboard, aninteractive display, a navigation system display, an in-vehicle display,a video wall that includes multiple touchscreen displays (e.g., two ormore touchscreen displays arranged in some configuration on a givensurface, such as a wall, floor, ceiling, etc.), etc., and/or any otherdevice in which one or more touch electrodes 85 may be implemented.

Note that such interaction of a user with an electrode 85 may correspondto the user touching the touch sensor, the user being in proximatedistance to the touch sensor (e.g., within a sufficient proximity to thetouch sensor that coupling from the user to the touch sensor may beperformed via capacitively coupling (CC), etc. and/or generally anymanner of interacting with the touch sensor that is detectable based onprocessing of signals transmitted to and/or sensed from the touch sensorincluding proximity detection, gesture detection, etc.). With respect tothe various embodiments, implementations, etc. of various respectiveelectrodes as described herein, note that they may also be of any suchvariety of one or more types. For example, electrodes may be implementedwithin or on any desired shape (e.g., including two-dimensional (2-D)components such as a flat panel and/or three-dimensional (3-D)components such as a cylinder, a pyramid, a cube, etc.) or style (e.g.,lines, buttons, pads, etc.) or include any one or more of touch sensorelectrodes, capacitive buttons, capacitive sensors, row and columnimplementations of touch sensor electrodes such as in a touchscreen,etc. Some examples of 2-D and 3-D shapes, objects, etc. may includeelectrodes placed in or under floors, walls, windows, doors, ceilings,furniture, beds, and/or any other objects. Note that such examples arenon-exhaustive, and generally speaking, electrodes may be implementedwithin or on any desired shape.

In addition, note that a user as described herein is not specificallylimited to the person (i.e., a human being). Generally speaking, anyelement that is operative to change impedance of at least one electrodeof a touch sensor device (TSD) (with or without display functionality)may be viewed as a user. For example, some examples of users that mayinteract with such a TSD may include any one or more of humans, animals,plants, conductive objects, non-conductive objects, active objects,passive objects, objects that may be associated with any one or moreother objects so as to operate with those one or more other objects,etc. that is operative to change impedance of at least one electrode ofa TSD. Note that such examples are non-exhaustive, and generallyspeaking, a user may be viewed as any element that is operative tochange impedance of at least one electrode of a TSD.

Note that different respective sets of electrodes may be placed indifferent respective portions of a particular 2-D and 3-D shapes,objects, etc. For example, a first set of electrodes may be placedwithin the first room within a house, building, etc., and a second setof electrodes may be placed within a second room within a house,building, etc. In a specific example, consider a first set of electrodesthat is associated with a first floor within a first room with thehouse, building, etc., and a second set of electrodes that is associatedwith a second floor within a second room within that same house,building, etc. Alternatively, a first set of electrodes may be placedwithin a first surface within a room within a house, building, etc., andthe second set electrodes may be placed within a second surface withinthat same room within that house, building, etc. In a specific example,consider a first set of electrodes that is associated with the floor ofa room within a house, building, etc., and a second set of electrodesthat is associated with a wall of that same room within a house,building, etc. Generally speaking, different sets of electrodes may beassociated with any desired number of 2-D and 3-D shapes, objects, etc.

FIG. 22A is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 2201 of atouch sensor device in accordance with the present invention. Thisdiagram shows a panel or touchscreen display with touch sensor devicethat includes electrodes 85 that are arranged in rows and columns. Oneor more processing modules 42 is implemented to communicate and interactwith the first set of DSCs 28 that couple to the row electrodes viainterface 86 and a second set of DSCs 28 that are coupled to the columnelectrodes the interface 87.

With respect to signaling provided from the DSCs 28 to the respectivecolumn and row electrodes, note that self signaling and mutual signalingis performed in certain examples. For example, with respect to selfsignaling, a common signal is provided via every DSC 28 that couples toa row electrode or a column electrodes. Such a common signal used inaccordance with self signaling includes common characteristics such asamplitude, frequency, and work out any other common characteristic thatis shared among all of such self signals that are provided from the DSCs28 to the row and column electrodes. With respect to mutual signaling,different signals are provided via the respective DSCs 28 that couple tothe row and column electrodes. For example, a first mutual signal isprovided via a first DSC 28 to a first row electrode via the interface86, and a second mutual signals provided via second DSC 28 to a secondrow electrode via the interface 86, etc. Generally speaking, differentrespective mutual signals are provided via different respective DSCs 28to different respective row electrodes via the interface 86 and thosedifferent respective mutual signals are then detected via capacitivecoupling into one or more of the respective column electrodes via thedifferent respective DSCs 28 that couple to the row electrodes via theinterface 87. Then, the respective DSCs 28 that couple to the columnelectrodes via interface 87 are implemented to detect capacitivecoupling of those signals that are provided via the respective rowelectrodes via the interface 86 to identify the location of anyinteraction with the panel or touchscreen display.

From certain perspectives and generally speaking, self signalingfacilitates detection of interaction with the panel or touchscreen, andmutual signaling facilitates not only detection of interaction with thepanel or touchscreen but also provides disambiguation of the location ofthe interaction with the panel or touchscreen. In certain examples, oneor more processing modules 42 is configured to process both the signalsthat are transmitted, received, and simultaneously sensed, etc. inaccordance with both of self signaling and mutual signaling with respectto a panel or touchscreen display. In certain other examples, such aswhen a in electrode is associated merely with a button, and anyinteraction with that button is detected, the one or more processingmodules 42 may be configured to process only the signals associated withself signaling, as disambiguation of location with the button may not bedesired in a particular application.

For example, as a user interacts with the panel or touchscreen display,such as based on a touch from a finger or portion of the user's body, astylus, etc., there will be capacitive coupling of the signals that areprovided via the row electrodes into the column electrodes proximallyclose to the cross-section of those row and column electrodes. Based ondetection of the signal that has been transmitted via the row electrodeinto the column electrode, has facilitated based on the capacitivecoupling that is based on the user interaction with the panel ortouchscreen display, the one or more processing modules 42 is configuredto identify the location of the user interaction with the panel ortouchscreen display. In addition, note that non-user associated objectsmay also interact with the panel or touchscreen display, such as basedon capacitive coupling between such non-user associated objects with thepanel or touchscreen display that also facilitate capacitive couplingbetween signals transmitted via a row electrode into a column electrode,or vice versa.

Consider two respective interactions with the panel touchscreen displayas shown by the hashed circles, then a corresponding heat maprepresentation showing the electrode crosspoint intersection may begenerated by the one or more processing modules 42 interpreting thesignals provided to it via the DSCs 28 that couple to the row and columnelectrodes.

In addition, with respect to this diagram and others herein, the one ormore processing modules 42 and DSC 28 may be implemented in a variety ofways. In certain examples, the one or more processing modules 42includes a first subset of the one or more processing modules 42 thatare in communication and operative with a first subset of the one ormore DSCs 28 (e.g., those in communication with one or more rowelectrodes of a panel or touchscreen display a touch sensor device) anda second subset of the one or more processing modules 42 that are incommunication and operative with a second subset of the one or more DSCs28 (e.g., those in communication with column electrodes of a panel ortouchscreen display a touch sensor device).

In even other examples, the one or more processing modules 42 includes afirst subset of the one or more processing modules 42 that are incommunication and operative with a first subset of one or more DSCs 28(e.g., those in communication with one or more row and/or columnelectrodes) and a second subset of the one or more processing modules 42that are in communication and operative with a second subset of one ormore DSCs 28 (e.g., those in communication with electrodes of anotherdevice entirely, such as another touch sensor device, an e-pen, etc.).

In yet other examples, the first subset of the one or more processingmodules 42, a first subset of one or more DSCs 28, and a first subset ofone or more electrodes 85 are implemented within or associated with afirst device, and the second subset of the one or more processingmodules 42, a second subset of one or more DSCs 28, and a second subsetof one or more electrodes 85 are implemented within or associated with asecond device. The different respective devices (e.g., first and second)may be similar type devices or different devices. For example, they mayboth be devices that include touch sensors (e.g., without displayfunctionality). For example, they may both be devices that includetouchscreens (e.g., with display functionality). For example, the firstdevice may be a device that include touch sensors (e.g., with or withoutdisplay functionality), and the second device is an e-pen device.

In an example of operation and implementation, with respect to the firstsubset of the one or more processing modules 42 that are incommunication and operative with a first subset of one or more DSCs 28,a signal #1 is coupled from a first electrode 85 that is incommunication to a first DSC 28 of the first subset of one or more DSCs28 that is in communication and operative with the first subset of theone or more processing modules 42 to a second electrode 85 that is incommunication to a first DSC 28 of the second subset of one or more DSCs28 that is in communication and operative with the second subset of theone or more processing modules 42.

When more than one DSC 28 is included within the first subset of one ormore DSCs 28, the signal #1 may also be coupled from the first electrode85 that is in communication to a first DSC 28 of the first subset of oneor more DSCs 28 that is in communication and operative with the firstsubset of the one or more processing modules 42 to a third electrode 85that is in communication to a second DSC 28 of the second subset of oneor more DSCs 28 that is in communication and operative with the secondsubset of the one or more processing modules 42.

Generally speaking, signals may be coupled between one or moreelectrodes 85 that are in communication and operative with the firstsubset of the one or more DSCs 28 associated with the first subset ofthe one or more processing modules 42 and the one or more electrodes 85that are in communication and operative with the second subset of theone or more DSCs 28 (e.g., signal #1, signal #2). In certain examples,such signals are coupled from one electrode 85 to another electrode 85.

In some examples, these two different subsets of the one or moreprocessing modules 42 are also in communication with one another (e.g.,via communication effectuated via capacitive coupling between a firstsubset of electrodes 85 serviced by the first subset of the one or moreprocessing modules 42 and a second subset of electrodes 85 serviced bythe first subset of the one or more processing modules 42, via one ormore alternative communication means such as a backplane, a bus, awireless communication path, etc., and/or other means). In someparticular examples, these two different subsets of the one or moreprocessing modules 42 are not in communication with one another directlyother than via the signal coupling between the one or more electrodes 85themselves.

A first group of one or more DSCs 28 is/are implemented simultaneouslyto drive and to sense respective one or more signals provided to a firstof the one or more electrodes 85. In addition, a second group of one ormore DSCs 28 is/are implemented simultaneously to drive and to senserespective one or more other signals provided to a second of the one ormore electrodes 85.

For example, a first DSC 28 is implemented simultaneously to drive andto sense a first signal via a first sensor electrode 85. A second DSC 28is implemented simultaneously to drive and to sense a second signal viaa second sensor electrode 85. Note that any number of additional DSCsimplemented simultaneously to drive and to sense additional signals toadditional electrodes 85 as may be appropriate in certain embodiments.Note also that the respective DSCs 28 may be implemented in a variety ofways. For example, they may be implemented within a device that includesthe one or more electrodes 85, they may be implemented within atouchscreen display, they may be distributed among the device thatincludes the one or more electrodes 85 that does not include displayfunctionality, etc.

FIG. 22B and FIG. 22C are schematic block diagrams of embodiments 2202and 2203 of mutual signaling within a touch sensor device in accordancewith the present invention. Note that while self signaling may beperformed on one or more, or all, of the electrodes via the respectiveDSCs 28 that couple to the row and column electrodes of a panel ortouchscreen display, mutual signaling may be performed in an variety ofdifferent ways. For example, as shown by Option 1, mutual signaling maybe performed such that signals are transmitted via the row electrodes ofthe panel or touchscreen display and detection of capacitive coupling ofthose signals into the column electrodes is detected via the columnelectrodes. Alternatively, as shown by Option 2, mutual signaling may beperformed such that signals are transmitted via the column electrodes ofthe panel or touchscreen display and detection of capacitive coupling ofthose signals into the row electrodes is detected via the rowelectrodes. Regardless of the particular implementation by which selfand/or mutual signaling is performed, note that a respective DSC 28 isconfigured to transmit a signal via the respective electrode to which itcoupled and simultaneously to sense that same signal via that respectiveelectrode including to sense any other signal that is coupled into thatrespective electrode (e.g., such as with respect to capacitive couplingof signals from one or more other electrodes based on user interactionwith the panel or touchscreen display).

Note that certain examples of signaling as described herein relate tomutual signaling such that a one or more signals are transmitted via rowelectrodes of one or more panels or touchscreen displays and, based oncapacitive coupling of those one or more signals into column electrodesof the one or more panels are touchscreen displays, disambiguation ofthe location of any interaction of a user, device, object, etc. may beidentified by one or more processing modules 42 that are configured tointerpret the signals provided from one or more DSCs 28.

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 2300 of anextended touch sensor device in accordance with the present invention.This diagram shows the same signaling that is provided via the rowelectrodes of two respective panels or touchscreen displays of a touchsensor device. In this diagram, the touch sensor device includes tworespective panels or touchscreen displays. The signals are transmittedon the rows of the respective panels or touchscreen displays are shared,and there is separate receiving of those signals that may be detectedvia the column electrodes.

With respect to this diagram and others herein within which signals areprovided to more than one panel or touchscreen display of a touch sensordevice, this provides a distinct advantage over prior art systems whenthere is a limited number of different types of signals having differentcharacteristics that may be used. For example, consider animplementation which has available only a limited number of transmitfrequencies. By providing the same signals having similar transmitfrequencies to different panels for touchscreen display that looked atsensor device, frequency reuse improves the overall operation of thesystem by making available additional signal frequencies for touchscreendevice operations and/or other operations.

For example, a first signal is provided via a first electrode of thefirst panel of the touch sensor device and is also provided via a firstelectrode of the second panel or touchscreen display of the touch sensordevice. In certain examples, this first electrode will be the top rowelectrode of both panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensordevice. Similarly, a second signal is provided via a second electrode ofthe first panel or touchscreen display of the touch sensor device and isalso provided via a second electrode of the second panel or touchscreendisplay of the touch sensor device. In certain examples, this secondelectrode will be the second from top row electrode of both panels ortouchscreen displays of the touch sensor device.

While transmission of the signals is made via the row electrodes of thedifferent panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device areshared, reception of those signals, via capacitive coupling and into thecolumn electrodes, is performed separately so as to facilitatedisambiguation of the location of such capacitive coupling between therow electrodes and the column electrodes.

As can be seen on the right-hand side of the diagram, considering tworespective interactions with the panel or touchscreen display as shownby the hashed circles, then a corresponding heat map representationshowing the electrode crosspoint intersection may be generated by theone or more processing modules 42 interpreting the signals provided toit via the DSCs 28 that couple to the row and column electrodes. As canbe seen, the respective locations of the interactions with the panel ortouchscreen display are shown as corresponding with respect to the tworespective panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device.

In an example of operation and implementation, a touch sensor device(TSD)(with or without display functionality), such as an extended touchsensor device as described herein, includes two or more panels and atleast one drive-sense circuit (DSC). For example, a touch sensor device(TSD)(with or without display functionality) includes a first panel thatincludes first electrodes arranged in a first direction and secondelectrodes arranged in a second direction and also includes a secondpanel that includes third electrodes arranged in a third direction andfourth electrodes arranged in a fourth direction. Also, the TSD includesa DSC operably coupled via a single line to a coupling of a firstelectrode of the first electrodes and a first electrode of the thirdelectrodes. For example, the DSC is coupled to a first electrode of arow of the first panel and a first electrode of a row of the secondpanel. Alternatively, the DSC is coupled to a first electrode of acolumn of the first panel and a first electrode of a column of thesecond panel. When enabled, the DSC configured to generate a signalbased on a reference signal. this reference signal may be provided fromone or more processing modules, generated internally to the DSC, orprovided from another source, location, device, etc. The DSC is alsoconfigured to provide the signal via the single line to the coupling ofthe first electrode of the first electrodes and the first electrode ofthe third electrodes and simultaneously to sense the signal via thesingle line. Note that the sensing of the signal includes detection of afirst electrical characteristic of the first electrode of the firstelectrodes and/or a second electrical characteristic of the firstelectrode of the third electrodes. Also, the DSC is configured togenerate a digital signal representative of the first electricalcharacteristic of the first electrode of the first electrodes and/or thesecond electrical characteristic of the first electrode of the thirdelectrodes.

In certain examples, note that the first panel is located at a firstlocation, and the second panel is located at a second location that isremotely located from the first location. With respect to remotelocation, note that these panels may be separated by a distance ofgreater than a few centimeters, 1 m, 2 m, 10 m, 50 m, 100 m, 1 km, 2 km,and/or any other distance based on remote location of the first paneland the second panel.

In certain other examples, note that the first panel or the second panelis located at a first location, and the DSC is located at a secondlocation that is remotely located from the first location. With respectto remote location, note that the first panel or the second panel andthe DSC may be separated by a distance of greater than a fewcentimeters, 1 m, 2 m, 10 m, 50 m, 100 m, 1 km, 2 km, and/or any otherdistance based on remote location of the first panel or the second paneland the DSC.

In certain implementations, note that the TSD also includes one or moreprocessing modules operably coupled to the DSC and to memory. In evenother implementations, the one or more processing modules includesmemory and is operably coupled to the DSC and the memory. Regardless ifimplementation, the memory stores operational instructions. Whenenabled, the one or more processing modules configured to execute theoperational instructions to process the digital signal to determineinteraction and/or location of a user and/or an object with the touchsensor device.

Also, in certain examples, the first panel or the second panel islocated at a first location, and the DSC is located at a second locationthat is remotely located from the first location. The one or moreprocessing modules is located at a third location that is remotelylocated from the first location and the second location. With respect toremote location, note that the associated separation between therespective locations may be a distance of greater than a fewcentimeters, 1 m, 2 m, 10 m, 50 m, 100 m, 1 km, 2 km, and/or any otherdistance.

Note also that the TSD is configured simultaneously to detect a firstinteraction or first location of a first user or a first object with thefirst panel and a second interaction or second location of a second useror a second object with the second panel. For example, a first user or afirst object may be interacting with the first panel while a second useror a second object is interacting with the second panel. The TSD isconfigured to detect such interaction with the two respective panelssimultaneously.

In certain specific examples, the TSD also includes another DSC operablycoupled to the one or more processing modules and also operably coupledvia another single line to a first electrode of the second electrodes.When enabled, the other DSC configured to generate another signal basedon another reference signal. This other DSC is configured to provide theother signal via the other single line to the first electrode of thesecond electrodes and simultaneously to sense the other signal via theother single line. Note that the sensing of the other signal includesdetection of a third electrical characteristic of the first electrode ofthe second electrodes. Also, this other DSC is configured to generateanother digital signal representative of the third electricalcharacteristic of the first electrode of the second electrodes.

In yet another example, the DSC includes a first other DSC and a secondother DSC. In an example of operation and implementation, the firstother DSC is operably coupled to the one or more processing modules andalso operably coupled via a first other single line to a first electrodeof the second electrodes. When enabled, the first other DSC configuredto generate a first other signal based on a first other reference signaland to provide the first other signal via the first other single line tothe first electrode of the second electrodes and simultaneously to sensethe first other signal via the first other single line. Note that thesensing of the first other signal includes detection of a thirdelectrical characteristic of the first electrode of the secondelectrodes. The first other DSC is also configured to generate a firstother digital signal representative of the third electricalcharacteristic of the first electrode of the second electrodes. Thesecond other DSC is operably coupled to the one or more processingmodules and also operably coupled via a second other single line to afirst electrode of the second electrodes. When enabled, the second otherDSC configured to generate a second other signal based on a second otherreference signal and to provide the second other signal via the secondother single line to the first electrode of the fourth electrodes andsimultaneously to sense the second other signal via the second othersingle line. Note that the sensing of the second other signal includesdetection of a fourth electrical characteristic of the first electrodeof the fourth electrodes. The second other DSC is also configured togenerate a second other digital signal representative of the fourthelectrical characteristic of the first electrode of the fourthelectrodes.

In certain specific examples, the DSC is configured to provide thesignal via the single line to the coupling of the first electrode of thefirst electrodes and the first electrode of the third electrodes suchthat the signal is provided and simultaneously sensed via both ends ofthe first electrode of the first electrodes and also both ends of thefirst electrode of the third electrodes. For example, FIG. 24B describessuch an implementation.

In a particular implementation of a DSC, the DSC includes a power sourcecircuit operably coupled to the coupling of the first electrode of thefirst electrodes and the first electrode of the third electrodes via thesingle line. When enabled, the power source circuit is configured toprovide the signal that includes an analog signal via the single line.In certain examples, the analog signal includes a DC (direct current)component and/or an oscillating component. The DSC also includes a powersource change detection circuit operably coupled to the power sourcecircuit. When enabled, the power source change detection circuit isconfigured to detect an effect on the analog signal that is based on theat least one of the first electrical characteristic of the firstelectrode of the first electrodes and/or the second electricalcharacteristic of the first electrode of the third electrodes. Also, thepower source change detection circuit is configured to generate thedigital signal that is representative of the at least one of the firstelectrical characteristic of the first electrode of the first electrodesand/or the second electrical characteristic of the first electrode ofthe third electrodes.

In certain specific examples, the power source circuit also includes apower source to source at least one of a voltage or a current to thecoupling of the first electrodes and the first electrode of the thirdelectrodes via the single line. In a particular implementation, thepower source change detection circuit also includes a power sourcereference circuit configured to provide at least one of a voltagereference or a current reference. The power source change detectioncircuit also includes a comparator configured to compare the at leastone of the voltage and the current provided to the coupling of the firstelectrodes and the first electrode of the third electrodes to the atleast one of the voltage reference and the current reference to producethe analog signal.

In yet another example of operation and implementation, a TSD includes afirst panel, a second panel, a first DSC, a second DSC, and a third DSC.For example, the first panel includes first electrodes arranged in afirst direction and second electrodes arranged in a second direction.The second panel includes third electrodes arranged in a third directionand fourth electrodes arranged in a fourth direction.

The first DSC is operably coupled via a first single line to a couplingof a first electrode of the first electrodes and a first electrode ofthe third electrodes. When enabled, the first DSC configured to generatea first signal based on a first reference signal. The first DSC is alsoconfigured to provide the first signal via the first single line to thecoupling of the first electrode of the first electrodes and the firstelectrode of the third electrodes and simultaneously to sense the firstsignal via the first single line. Note that the sensing of the firstsignal includes detection of at least one of a first electricalcharacteristic of the first electrode of the first electrodes and/or asecond electrical characteristic of the first electrode of the thirdelectrodes. The first DSC is also configured to generate a first digitalsignal representative of the at least one of the first electricalcharacteristic of the first electrode of the first electrodes and/or thesecond electrical characteristic of the first electrode of the thirdelectrodes.

The second DSC is operably coupled via a second single line to a firstelectrode of the second electrodes. When enabled, the DSC configured togenerate a second signal based on a second reference signal and toprovide the second signal via the second single line to the firstelectrode of the second electrodes and simultaneously to sense thesecond signal via the second single line. Note that the sensing of thesecond signal includes detection of a third electrical characteristic ofthe first electrode of the second electrodes. The second DSC is alsoconfigured to generate a second digital signal representative of thethird electrical characteristic of the first electrode of the secondelectrodes.

The third DSC is operably coupled via a third single line to a firstelectrode of the fourth electrodes. When enabled, the DSC configured togenerate a third signal based on a third reference signal and to providethe third signal via the third single line to the first electrode of thefourth electrodes and simultaneously to sense the third signal via thethird single line. Note that the sensing of the third signal includesdetection of a fourth electrical characteristic of the first electrodeof the fourth electrodes. The third DSC is also configured to generate athird digital signal representative of the fourth electricalcharacteristic of the first electrode of the fourth electrodes.

With respect to this embodiment 2300 of an extended touch sensor deviceand others herein that includes two or more panels or touchscreendisplays, note that certain mechanisms may be used to facilitatediscrimination between which particular panel is experiencing andinteraction (e.g., such as with a user or any particular type). Forexample, consider this embodiment 2300 such the TSD includes a DSCoperably coupled via a single line to a coupling of a first electrode ofthe first electrodes and a first electrode of the third electrodes. Anyinteraction with the TSD, and specifically any interaction with thefirst electrode of the first electrodes and/or a first electrode of thethird electrodes, and/or the single line coupling to the coupling of thefirst electrode of the first electrodes and the first electrode of thethird electrodes will be detected by the DSC. However, by providingdifferent impedances with respect to the first electrode of the firstelectrodes and the first electrode of the third electrodes, the DSC isconfigured to discriminate which of those respective electrodes isexperiencing any interaction. For example, consider that the firstelectrode of the first electrodes includes a first impedance (e.g.,resistance) that is much different than a second impedance of the firstelectrode of the third electrodes, then interaction with the firstelectrode of the first electrodes will be detected by the DSCdifferently than interaction with first electrode of the thirdelectrodes. In an example of operation and implementation, the DSC isconfigured to detect interaction with the first electrode of the firstelectrodes by detecting a first change of impedance corresponding to afirst value or first range, and the DSC is configured to detectinteraction of the first electrode of the third electrodes by detectinga second change of impedance corresponding to a second value or secondrange.

In addition, consider that a first panel or touchscreen display includeselectrodes having impedance within a first range, and a second panel ortouchscreen display includes electrodes having impedance within a secondrange. Based on the different respective ranges of the impedances of theelectrodes of the first and second panels or touchscreen displays, theone or more DSCs is configured to discriminate which of the first andsecond panels or touchscreen displays is experiencing interaction. In anexample of operation and implementation, the one or more DSCs isconfigured to detect interaction with the first panel or touchscreendisplay by detecting a first change of impedance of one or more of theelectrodes within the first panel or touchscreen display correspondingto a first value or first range, and the one or more DSCs is configuredto detect interaction with the second panel or touchscreen display bydetecting a second change of impedance of one or more of the electrodeswithin the second panel or touchscreen display corresponding to a secondvalue or second range.

As described above, for example, an increase in self-capacitance (e.g.,the capacitance of the electrode with respect to a reference (e.g.,ground, etc.)) is indicative of a touch on the electrode of a user orother element. As another example, a decrease in mutual capacitance(e.g., the capacitance, Cm, between a row electrode and a columnelectrode) is also indicative of a touch and/or presence of a user orother element near the electrodes. Generally speaking, any change in theimpedance of the corresponding one or more electrodes may be interpretedas being a touch and/or presence of a user or other element near thatcorresponding one or more electrodes.

In addition, consider an implementation in which different electrodeshave different impedances (e.g., different electrodes of differentpanels or touchscreen displays having different impedances), then thechange of impedance based on a touch and/or presence of a user or otherelement near those one or more electrodes will be different dependingupon which electrodes that touch and/or presence of the user or otherelement is made. For example, consider a first electrode having a firstimpedance, and the second electrode having a second impedance. Thesefirst and second electrodes may be implemented within different panelsor touchscreen displays. A user or other element interaction with thefirst electrode will generate a first change of impedance of the firstelectrode, and a user or other element interaction with the secondelectrode will generate a second change of impedance of the secondelectrode. These respective changes of impedance will be based on theinitial first and second impedance of the first and second electrodes,respectively. A DSC is configured to discriminate the different changesof impedance is corresponding to the first or second electrodes. Again,considering and implementation in which the first and second electrodesare implemented within different panels or touchscreen displays, a DSCis configured to discriminate which panel or touchscreen display, firstor second, is being affected based on a touch and/or presence of a useror other element near it.

Note that different impedances of different electrodes, such as may beimplemented within different panels or touchscreen displays, may be madein a variety of different ways. In one example, the first material of afirst electrode is different than the material of a second electrode.For example, the first material corresponds to copper, and the secondmaterial corresponds to aluminum. By fabricating each of the firstelectrode and the second electrode of different materials havingdifferent electrical properties, each of the first electrode and thesecond electrode will have different impedances.

In another example, the first electrode and the second electrode aremade of the same material but of different size, length, thickness,diameter, and/or some physical characteristic difference that causes thefirst electrode and the second electrode to have different electricalproperties such that each of the first electrode and the secondelectrode will have different impedances.

In yet another example, the first electrode and the second electrode areimplemented respectively within a first panel or touchscreen display anda second panel or touchscreen display. Consider that the first electrodeand the second electrode generally have similar electrical properties,such as similar impedances. Consider an implementation in which thefirst panel or touchscreen display includes a first cover layer having afirst thickness, and the second panel or touchscreen display includes asecond cover layer having a second thickness. Given the differences inthe thicknesses of the cover layer is over the first and second panelsor touchscreen displays, as a user or other element interacts with thefirst electrode, a first change of impedance will be caused based on thefirst thickness of the first cover layer of the first panel ortouchscreen display. However, as a user or other element interacts withthe second electrode, a second change of impedance will be caused basedon the second thickness of the second cover layer of the second panel ortouchscreen display.

In yet another example, the first panel or touchscreen display and asecond panel or touchscreen display are similar or substantially similarin all respects (e.g., certain characteristics such as size, resolution,number of electrodes, pitch between electrodes, and/or any othercharacteristics), yet the coupling (e.g., lines, cabling, ribbon cable,coupling, etc.) between the first panel or touchscreen display and thesecond panel or touchscreen display or the coupling (e.g., lines,cabling, ribbon cable, coupling, etc.) between the DSC and the secondpanel or touchscreen display has a different impedance (e.g., a largerimpedance than the coupling (e.g., lines, cabling, ribbon cable,coupling, etc.) between the DSC and the first panel or touchscreendisplay. The different respective impedances between the first panel ortouchscreen display and the second panel or touchscreen display, basedon the difference in coupling provides yet another means by whichdifferentiation of impedance may be implemented between a first panel ortouchscreen display and a second panel or touchscreen display includingone or more electrodes implemented within those first and second panelsor touchscreen displays.

Regardless of the particular means by which differentiation of impedanceis implemented within a first electrode of a first panel or touchscreendisplay and a second electrode of a second panel or touchscreen display,a DSC is configured to discriminate which panel or touchscreen display,first or second, is being affected based on a touch and/or presence of auser or other element near it given the different changes of theelectrical characteristics that are detected as corresponding to thefirst electrode of the first panel or touchscreen display or the secondelectrode of the second panel or touchscreen display.

FIG. 24A is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 2401 of anextended touch sensor device including signaling via respective sets ofrows and columns in accordance with the present invention. This diagramhas some similarities with the previous diagram with at least onedifference being that the row electrodes and column electrodes arepartitioned into respective sets of row electrodes and column electrodesthat are respectively serviced by respective sets of DSCs 28 that are incommunication with one or more processing modules 42. For example, afirst one or more DSCs are implemented to service a first set of rowelectrodes or column electrodes, a second one or more DSCs areimplemented to service a second set of row electrodes or columnelectrodes, and so on.

In this diagram, first one or more signaling is provided via a first setof row electrodes of the first panel or touchscreen display of the touchsensor device and also to a first set of row electrodes of the secondpanel or touchscreen display of the touch sensor device. Similarly,second one or more signaling is provided via a second set of rowelectrodes of the first panel or touchscreen display of the touch sensordevice and also to a second set of row electrodes of the second panel ortouchscreen display of the touch sensor device.

While transmission of the signals is made via the respective sets of rowelectrodes of the different panels or touchscreen displays of the touchsensor device are shared, reception of those signals, via capacitivecoupling and into respective sets of column electrodes, is performedseparately so as to facilitate disambiguation of the location of suchcapacitive coupling between the row electrodes and the column electrodesof the different respective sets of row electrodes and columnelectrodes.

FIG. 24B is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 2402 of anextended touch sensor device including signaling via respective sets ofrows and columns in accordance with the present invention. This diagramhas some similarities to the previous diagram with at least one butdifference being that the signals that are driven via the respective rowelectrodes of the two panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensordevice are driven from both sides of the respective panels. For example,there may be implementations in which the panel is of a particular size,impedance, and/or of the other characteristic such that it is desirableto drive the different respective panels or touchscreen displays of thetouch sensor device from both ends (e.g., consider a high impedancepanel that, when implemented in accordance with the prior art,necessarily requires driving from both sides of the panel). In a priorimplementation in which such operation is desirable, driving the panelor touchscreen display from both sides, the board count and real estateconsumption of such a device can be problematic.

The functionality and capability of the DSCs as described herein hascapability to facilitate such operation with a significant reduction inboard count and real estate consumption within the device.

FIG. 25 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 2500 of anextended touch sensor device in accordance with the present invention.Many diagrams herein show transmission of the same signaling via one ormore of row electrodes of two or more panels or touchscreen displays ofa touch sensor device and detection of those signals via capacitivecoupling into one or more column electrodes of those two or more panelsor touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device. Note that theconverse operation may be performed such that there is transmission ofthe same signaling via one or more column electrodes of the two or morepanels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device and detectionof those signals via capacitive coupling into the one or more rowelectrodes of those two or more panels or touchscreen displays of thetouch sensor device.

This diagram shows the same signaling that is provided via the columnelectrodes of two respective panels or touchscreen displays of a touchsensor device. In this diagram, the touch sensor device includes tworespective panels or touchscreen displays. The signals are transmittedon the column of the respective panels or touchscreen displays areshared, and there is separate receiving of those signals that may bedetected via the row electrodes.

For example, a first signal is provided via a first electrode of thefirst panel of the touch sensor device and is also provided via a firstelectrode of the second panel or touchscreen display of the touch sensordevice. In certain examples, this first electrode will be the left mostcolumn electrode of both panels or touchscreen displays of the touchsensor device. Similarly, a second signal is provided via a secondelectrode of the first panel or touchscreen display of the touch sensordevice and is also provided via a second electrode of the second panelor touchscreen display of the touch sensor device. In certain examples,this second electrode will be the second from top row electrode of bothpanels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device.

While transmission of the signals is made via the row electrodes of thedifferent panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device areshared, reception of those signals, via capacitive coupling and into thecolumn electrodes, is performed separately so as to facilitatedisambiguation of the location of such capacitive coupling between therow electrodes and the column electrodes.

As can be seen on the right-hand side of the diagram, considering tworespective interactions with the panel or touchscreen display as shownby the hashed circles, then a corresponding heat map representationshowing the electrode crosspoint intersection may be generated by theone or more processing modules 42 interpreting the signals provided toit via the DSCs 28 that couple to the row and column electrodes. As canbe seen, the respective locations of the interactions with the panel ortouchscreen display are shown as corresponding with respect to the tworespective panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device.

For example, as shown with respect to FIG. 22B, note that mutualsignaling may be performed within different ways including transmissionof one or more mutual signals via row electrodes and detection ofcapacitive coupling of those signals into column electrodes via thecolumn electrodes, or vice versa. For example, mutual signaling mayalternatively be performed based on transmission of one or more mutualsignals via column electrodes and detection of capacitive coupling ofthose signals into row electrodes via the row electrodes.

FIG. 26 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 2600 of anextended touch sensor device including variable resolution andinteroperable sensor panels in accordance with the present invention.This diagram shows two respective panels or touchscreen displays thathave a same number of row electrodes and column electrodes but are ofdifferent size. For example, the second panel or touchscreen display mayinclude a same number of row electrodes and column electrodes as thefirst panel or touchscreen display, but the row electrodes and/or columnelectrodes of the second panel or touchscreen display may be of adifferent pitch or separation than the row electrodes and/or the columnelectrodes is different between the first and second panels ortouchscreen displays. The resolution of the two respective panels ortouchscreen displays of the touch sensor device may be variable, yet thetwo respective panels or touchscreen displays are interoperable with oneanother.

This diagram has certain similarities with respect to FIG. 23 with atleast one difference being that the second panel or touchscreen displayis of a different size than the first panel or touchscreen display. Notethat the second panel or touchscreen display may be larger or smallerthan the first panel or touchscreen display and various examples. Forexample, the second panel or touchscreen display may include a samenumber of row electrodes and column electrodes but be of a differentpitch or separation between the row electrodes and the column electrodesis different between the first and second panels or touchscreendisplays.

This diagram shows the same signaling that is provided via the rowelectrodes of two respective panels or touchscreen displays of a touchsensor device that are of different size, resolution, etc. In thisdiagram, the touch sensor device includes two respective panels ortouchscreen displays. The signals are transmitted on the rows of therespective panels or touchscreen displays are shared, and there isseparate receiving of those signals that may be detected via the columnelectrodes.

For example, a first signal is provided via a first electrode of thefirst panel of the touch sensor device and is also provided via a firstelectrode of the second panel or touchscreen display of the touch sensordevice. In certain examples, this first electrode will be the top rowelectrode of both panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensordevice. Similarly, a second signal is provided via a second electrode ofthe first panel or touchscreen display of the touch sensor device and isalso provided via a second electrode of the second panel or touchscreendisplay of the touch sensor device. In certain examples, this secondelectrode will be the second from top row electrode of both panels ortouchscreen displays of the touch sensor device.

While transmission of the signals is made via the row electrodes of thedifferent panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device areshared, reception of those signals, via capacitive coupling and into thecolumn electrodes, is performed separately so as to facilitatedisambiguation of the location of such capacitive coupling between therow electrodes and the column electrodes.

As can be seen on the right-hand side of the diagram, considering tworespective interactions with the panel or touchscreen display as shownby the hashed circles, then a corresponding heat map representationshowing the electrode crosspoint intersection may be generated by theone or more processing modules 42 interpreting the signals provided toit via the DSCs 28 that couple to the row and column electrodes. As canbe seen, the respective locations of the interactions with the panel ortouchscreen display are shown as corresponding with respect to the tworespective panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device.

FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 2700 of anextended matrix touch sensor device in accordance with the presentinvention. This diagram shows for panels or touchscreen displays of atouch sensor device. Signaling is shared between certain of the panelsor touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device. For example, thesame first signaling that is provided via the row electrodes of the toptwo respective panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensordevice, and the same second signaling that is provided via the rowelectrodes of the bottom two respective panels or touchscreen displaysof the touch sensor device.

Similarly, detection of any capacitive coupling of the signalsassociated with the first signaling or the second signaling is made viathe column electrodes of the left two respective panels or touchscreendisplays of the touch sensor device and also via the column electrodesof the right to respective panels or touchscreen displays of the touchsensor device.

As can be seen, a first set of DSCs 28 provides the same first signalingto the row electrodes of the top two respective panels or touchscreendisplays of the touch sensor device. A second set of DSCs 28 provide thesame second signaling to the row electrodes of the bottom two respectivepanels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device.

A third set of DSCs 28 is coupled to the column electrodes of the lefttwo respective panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensordevice, and a fourth set of DSCs 28 is coupled to the column electrodesof the right two respective panels or touchscreen displays of the touchsensor device.

Based on different respective signaling being provided to the differentrespective row electrodes in this configuration, disambiguation ofinteraction with the respective panels or touchscreen displays of thetouch sensor device may be made.

Consider four respective interactions with the panel touchscreen displayas shown by the hashed circles, then a corresponding heat maprepresentation showing the electrode crosspoint intersection may begenerated by the one or more processing modules 42 interpreting thesignals provided to it via the DSCs 28 that couple to the row and columnelectrodes of the four respective panels or touchscreen displays.

In an example of operation and implementation, consider the floorrespective panels or touchscreen displays being numbered 1 2 3 4, suchthat 1 is the upper left-hand panel or touchscreen display, 2 is theupper right-hand panel or touchscreen display, 3 is the lower left-handpanel or touchscreen display, and 4 is the lower right-hand panel ortouchscreen display. The panels or touchscreen displays 1 and 2 sharethe same transmission signals (TX1) that are provided to the respectiverows of the panels or touchscreen displays 1 and 2, and the panels ortouchscreen displays 3 and 4 share the same transmission signals (TX2)that are provided to the respective rows of the panels or touchscreendisplays 3 and 4.

The panels or touchscreen displays 1 and 3 share the same receivingsignals (RX1) for listening to the TX1 and/or TX2 signals that may becapacitively coupled into the column electrodes of the panels ortouchscreen displays 1 and 3. Similarly, the panels or touchscreendisplays 2 and 4 share the same receiving signals (RX2) for listening tothe TX1 and/or TX2 signals that may be capacitively coupled into thecolumn electrodes of the panels or touchscreen displays 2 and 4.

FIG. 28 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 2800 of anextended touch sensor device based on a distributed architecture forremotely located sensor panels in accordance with the present invention.This diagram has some similarity to certain of the previous diagramsincluding FIG. 23 with at least one difference being that the panels ortouchscreen displays of the touch sensor device are remotely locatedwith respect to the circuitry that is implemented to effectuatetransmission, reception, sensing, etc. of signals via the electrodes ofthe panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device (e.g.,such as that shown by the DSCs 28, the one or more processing modules42, etc.). Note that the distance between the panels or touchscreendisplays of the touch sensor device is a relatively long distance incertain examples. For example, the distance between the circuitry andthe panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device may begreater than 1 meter (m), 2 m, 10 m, 50 m, 100 m, 1 km, 2 km, or of aneven greater distance in various implementations.

The functionality and capability of the DSCs as described herein hascapability to drive and sense signals via extremely long lines. Incomparison to prior art that require the circuitry that services therespective electrodes of a panel or touchscreen display to beimplemented extremely close to the edge of the panel or touchscreendisplay (e.g., the measurement control electronics, circuitry, chips,etc. of prior art systems need to be placed as close to the panel ortouchscreen display as possible), the use of DSCs as described hereinfacilitates locating the circuitry that services the electrodes of thepanel or touchscreen display to be located remotely with respect to thepanel or touchscreen display. In certain implementations, this has avariety of advantages and benefits over the prior art. For example, thepanel or touchscreen display of the touch sensor may be located in anenvironment that is not particularly friendly to the circuitry thatservices the electrodes of the panel or touchscreen display. Forexample, the control electronics, circuitry, chips, etc. is exposed tothe environment of the panel or touchscreen display (e.g., sunlight,rain, heat).

Such an environment may be of a particular level of humidity,temperature, pressure, vibration, etc. that may adversely affect theoperation of the circuitry that services the electrodes of the panel ortouchscreen display. In addition, such an environment may unfortunatelyprovide exposure of the elements (e.g., extreme temperature, rain, snow,etc.) that also adversely affects the operation of the circuitry thatservices the electrodes of the panel or touchscreen display.

By using such circuitry as described herein, including the functionalityand capability of the DSCs as described herein, the circuitry may belocated remotely with respect to the panel or touchscreen display thatis servicing.

Also, note that while many examples described herein show differentrespective panels or touchscreen displays as having similar constructionat least with respect to the number of row electrodes and columnelectrodes included therein, even when they may be of different size,pitch, etc., note that similar functionality and operation may beperformed with respect to panels or touchscreen displays havingdifferent construction at least with respect to different numbers of rowelectrodes and column electrodes included respectively therein. Forexample, a first panel or touchscreen display may include a first numberof row electrodes and a second number of column electrodes while asecond panel or touchscreen display may include a third number of rowelectrodes in a fourth number of column electrodes. Appropriate mappingbetween the first number of row electrodes and the third number of rowelectrodes, such as via one or more switching circuits, may beimplemented to facilitate interoperability between the first panel ortouchscreen display and a second panel or touchscreen display.Similarly, appropriate mapping between the second number of columnelectrodes in the fourth number of column electrodes, such as via one ormore switching circuits, may be implemented to facilitateinteroperability between the first panel or touchscreen display and asecond panel or touchscreen display.

For example, consider a mapping between a first panel or touchscreendisplay that includes N row electrodes and a second panel or touchscreendisplay that includes 2N electrodes, such that N is a positive integergreater than or equal to 1. A mapping between the N and 2N rowelectrodes of the first and second panels or touchscreen displays mayinclude mapping every row electrode of the first panel or touchscreendisplay to every other row electrode of the second panel or touchscreendisplay.

For example, consider a mapping between a first panel or touchscreendisplay that includes N row electrodes and a second panel or touchscreendisplay that includes 3N electrodes, such that N is a positive integergreater than or equal to 1. A mapping between the N and 3N rowelectrodes of the first and second panels or touchscreen displays mayinclude mapping every row electrode of the first panel or touchscreendisplay to every third row electrode of the second panel or touchscreendisplay.

For example, consider a first panel or touchscreen display including afirst number of electrodes that is greater than a second number ofelectrodes within a second panel or touchscreen display. In certainexamples, the system will be implemented to service the first number ofelectrodes of the first panel or touchscreen display and also to servicethe second number of electrodes of the second panel or touchscreendisplay such that the second number of electrodes is serviced along witha subset of the first number of electrodes. In a specific example,consider that the first number electrodes includes double the number ofthe second number electrodes, then one-half of the first numberelectrodes will be serviced along with the second number of electrodes.The remaining electrodes within the first number electrodes will beserviced without being specifically tied or linked to the second numberelectrodes.

In a specific example, a device that includes a first panel ortouchscreen display including a first number of electrodes that isgreater than a second number of electrodes within a second panel ortouchscreen display is implemented such that the first panel ortouchscreen display is operative as a fine resolution sensor, and thesecond panel or texturing display is implemented as a coarse resolutionsensor in comparison to the first panel or touchscreen display.

In another specific example, a device that includes a first panel ortouchscreen display including a first number of electrodes that isgreater than a second number of electrodes within a second panel ortouchscreen display is implemented such that the first panel ortouchscreen display is of a larger size than the second panel ortouchscreen display such that both the first and the second panels ortouchscreen displays have the same or substantially the same resolution(e.g., the difference in size between the first and second panels ortouchscreen displays scales based on the difference in number betweenthe first and second number of electrodes such that while each of thefirst and second panels or touchscreen displays includes a differentnumber of electrodes, they nonetheless operate based on the same orsubstantially the same resolution).

Based on the number of respective row electrodes between the first andsecond panels or touchscreen displays, any appropriate and/or desiredmapping between the electrodes of the first panel or touchscreen displayand the second panel or touchscreen display may be made to facilitateoperation of the first and second panels or touchscreen displays.

In addition, with respect to this diagram of others herein that areimplemented such that the circuitry that services the electrodes of oneor more panels or touch screen displays is remotely located with respectto the one or more panels or touchscreen displays themselves, thisprovides an improvement by reducing the amount of space by which therespective panels or touchscreen displays need to be space. For example,with respect to prior art systems in which the measurement controlelectronics, circuitry, chips, etc. of prior art systems need to beplaced as close to the display or touchscreen display as possible,various aspects, embodiments, and/or examples of the invention (and/ortheir equivalents) did not have such a requirement, and the circuitrythat services the electrodes of the one or more panels or touch screendisplays may be remotely located with respect to the one or more panelsor touchscreen displays themselves.

FIG. 29 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 2900 of atouch sensor device based on a distributed architecture for remotelylocated and independently operable sensor panels in accordance with thepresent invention. This diagram shows multiple respective panels ortouchscreen displays that are independently operable such that acorresponding set of DSCs 28 and another corresponding set of DSCs 28service the row electrodes and column electrodes of each respectivepanel or touchscreen display independently. In addition, the circuitrythat services these respective panels or touchscreen displays isremotely located with respect to each of these respective panels ortouchscreen displays, and the respective panels or touchscreen displaysare also remotely located with respect to one another.

With respect to the distance of separation between these variousremotely located components, note that the distance or distances may begreater than 1 m, 2 m, 10 m, 50 m, 100 m, 1 km, 2 km, or of an evengreater distance in various implementations. Again, the functionalityand capability of the DSCs as described herein has capability to driveand sense signals via extremely long lines thereby facilitating andenabling the remote location of the circuitry that services therespective electrodes of the panels or touchscreen displays from thepanels or touchscreen displays themselves. The prior art does notsupport such functionality and requires circuitry that services therespective electrodes of the panels or touchscreen displays to beco-located, and adjacently located, etc. with respect to the panels aretouchscreen displays themselves.

Certain of the prior diagrams operate based on extension of the touchsensor device using different respective panels or touchscreen displaysthat operate cooperatively one another to provide an extended panels ortouchscreen displays. Certain of the following diagrams depictduplicated/mirrored panels or touchscreen displays of a touch sensordevice. For example, by providing similar signaling to more than onepanel or touchscreen display at a time, any interaction with any one ofthe panels are touchscreen displays may be detected based on one or moreprocessing modules 42 interpreting the signals provided from the DSCs 20a that service the respective electrodes of the panels are touchscreendisplays. Such capability and functionality facilitates a number ofadvantages and new and novel modes of operation in comparison to theprior art. For example, consider a touchscreen display implementation inwhich two respective touchscreen displays show the same image or video,yet two different users interact respectively with the two respectivetouchscreen displays and their respective interaction is shown on a heatmap representation showing the electrode crosspoint intersection oftheir interaction as well as showing any interaction by one or both ofthe users on the heat map representation.

FIG. 30 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 3000 of aduplicated/mirrored touch sensor device in accordance with the presentinvention. This diagram shows a first set of DSCs 28 in communicationwith the one or more processing modules 42 that is configured to servicethe row electrodes of the two respective panels or touchscreen displaysof the touch sensor device and a second set of DSCs in communicationwith the one or more processing modules 42 that is configured to servicethe column electrodes of the two respective panels or touchscreendisplays of the touch sensor device.

As can be seen, the very same signaling is provided respectively to therow electrodes and column electrodes of the two panels or touchscreendisplays of the touch sensor device. Any interaction with either one ofthe two panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device isshown within the heat map representation shown on the lower right-handportion of the diagram. In this diagram, there is a shared transmissionon the rows of the two panels or touchscreen displays of the touchsensor device, and there is also shared receiving on the columns of thetwo panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device.

In addition, with respect to this diagram and others herein, note thatsuch an implementation is operative to support touchscreen device suchthat information corresponding to two or more panels or touchscreendisplays of the touch sensor device are operable all to be runningsimultaneously based on the same channels thereby sending one packet ofinteraction data.

In an example of operation and implementation, a particular applicationmay include a student and teacher working on the same screen interactingwithout crossing each other's space. This can facilitate both thestudent and teacher to be touching the exact same spot on the screen oftheir respective panels or touchscreen displays.

In addition, with respect to this diagram and others herein, note thatone or more objects (e.g., not specifically associated with the user)could be place on one panel or touchscreen display, and user interactionwith respect to another panel or touchscreen display may be operative tointeract with the signaling data associated with the one or more objectsplaced on the mean one panel or touchscreen display.

Furthermore, consider an application in which one or more items areplaced on a gaming table, and a panel are touchscreen display isavailable for user interaction such that the user interaction wouldfacilitate interaction with the data associated with the one or more atthe chip level. For example, such interaction with respect to a humaninterface descriptor (HID), would be provided at thephysical/sensor/controller level and not at the operating system (OS)level of a touch sensor device.

FIG. 31 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 3100 of aduplicated/mirrored touch sensor device based on a distributedarchitecture for remotely located sensor panels in accordance with thepresent invention. This diagram has similarity to the previous diagram,FIG. 30 , with at least one difference being that the two panels ortouchscreen displays of the touch sensor device are remotely locatedwith respect to the circuitry that services the respective rowelectrodes and column electrodes of the two panels or touchscreendisplays of the touch sensor device. In this diagram, the two panels ortouchscreen displays of the touch sensor device are co-located,adjacently located, etc. with respect to one another and remotelylocated with respect to the circuitry that services them.

For example, the two panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensordevice may be implemented such that they are co-located, adjacentlylocated, etc. with respect to one another, such as with respect to anarray (e.g., such as a video wall array that includes touchscreendisplays),

With respect to the distance of separation between these variousremotely located components, note that the distance or distances may begreater than 1 m, 2 m, 10 m, 50 m, 100 m, 1 km, 2 km, or of an evengreater distance in various implementations. Again, the functionalityand capability of the DSCs as described herein has capability to driveand sense signals via extremely long lines thereby facilitating andenabling the remote location of the circuitry that services therespective electrodes of the panels or touchscreen displays from thepanels or touchscreen displays themselves. The prior art does notsupport such functionality and requires circuitry that services therespective electrodes of the panels or touchscreen displays to beco-located, and adjacently located, etc. with respect to the panels aretouchscreen displays themselves.

FIG. 32 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 3200 of aduplicated/mirrored touch sensor device based on a distributedarchitecture for remotely located sensor panels in accordance with thepresent invention. This diagram has similarity to the previous diagrams,FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 , with at least one difference being that the twopanels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensor device are remotelylocated with respect to the circuitry that services the respective rowelectrodes and column electrodes of the two panels or touchscreendisplays of the touch sensor device and also that the two panels ortouchscreen displays of the touch sensor device are remotely locatedwith respect to one another.

Such an implementation may be suitable for a variety of applications.Consider a touch sensor device to include sensor capability includedwithin different respective locations of a home, office, building, etc.Interaction with any one of the respective panels or touchscreendisplays of the touch sensor device may be detected by the touch sensordevice. For example, consider different respective panels or touchscreendisplays implemented to facilitate user interaction to perform any oneor more of various operations corresponding to the operation of thehome, office, building, etc. Examples of such operations may correspondto unlocking of the front door, opening or closing of a garage door,setting the temperature of a thermostat, turning lighting on or off forcontrolling the intensity thereof, opening or closing of a window,and/or any other operation corresponding to the operation of the home,office, building, etc.

In certain examples, different respective users interacting withdifferent respective panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensordevice that are implemented within different respective locations of thehome, office, building, etc. is performed to facilitate the execution ofsuch operations. In other examples, one or more users interacting withdifferent respective panels or touchscreen displays of the touch sensordevice that are implemented within different respective locations of thehome, office, building, etc. is performed to facilitate the execution ofsuch operations at different respective times.

As described above, such as with respect to the embodiment 2300 of FIG.23 , certain implementations may include a first electrode and a secondelectrode that are implemented respectively within a first panel ortouchscreen display and a second panel or touchscreen display. In anexample of operation and implementation with respect to embodiment 3200of FIG. 32 , the first panel or touchscreen display is remotely locatedfrom the second panel or touchscreen display. Differentiation of theimpedance of the first electrode within the first panel or touchscreendisplay and a second electrode within the second panel or touchscreendisplay may also be used to differentiate which particular panel ortouchscreen display is experiencing interaction by a user or some otherelement. Consider an implementation in which the DSC is operably coupledvia a single line to a coupling of a first electrode of the first panelor touchscreen display and a second electrode of the second panel ortouchscreen display. In certain examples, the length of the line (e.g.,the distance) between the coupling of this single line to the firstelectrode of the first panel or touchscreen display and the firstelectrode of the second panel or touchscreen display (e.g., the distancebetween the first panel or touchscreen display and the second panel ortouchscreen display) provides the differentiation of impedance betweenthe first electrode of the first panel or touchscreen display and thesecond electrode of the second panel or touchscreen display. Forexample, that distance between the first panel or touchscreen displayand the second panel or touchscreen display, and the correspondingimpedance of the line or lines that connects the two panels ortouchscreen displays to each other or from separate cables connectingthe DSC to each panel or touchscreen display, provides differentiationof impedance between the first electrode of the first panel ortouchscreen display and the second electrode of the second panel ortouchscreen display.

In an example of operation and implementation, a DSC servicing the firstelectrode of the first panel or touchscreen display and the secondelectrode of the second panel or touchscreen display is configured todiscriminate which respective panel or touchscreen display, first orsecond, is experiencing interaction by a user or some other elementsbased on this differentiation of impedance corresponding to the firstelectrode of the first panel or touchscreen display and the secondelectrode of the second panel or touchscreen display. This representsyet another example by which differentiation between the first electrodeof the first panel or touchscreen display and the second electrode ofthe second panel or touchscreen display may be made so as to facilitatediscrimination by a DSC that services both the first electrode and thesecond electrode of the first and second panels or touchscreen displays,respectively.

Again, regardless of the particular means by which differentiation ofimpedance is implemented within a first electrode of a first panel ortouchscreen display and a second electrode of a second panel ortouchscreen display, a DSC is configured to discriminate which panel ortouchscreen display, first or second, is being affected based on a touchand/or presence of a user or other element near it given the differentchanges of the electrical characteristics that are detected ascorresponding to the first electrode of the first panel or touchscreendisplay or the second electrode of the second panel or touchscreendisplay.

FIG. 33 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment 3300 of aduplicated/mirrored touch sensor device based on a distributedarchitecture for remotely located sensor panels in accordance with thepresent invention. This diagram has similarity to the previous diagram,FIG. 33 , showing that the multiple panels or touchscreen displays ofthe touch sensor device are remotely located with respect to thecircuitry that services the respective row electrodes and columnelectrodes of the respective panels or touchscreen displays of the touchsensor device and also that the respective panels or touchscreendisplays of the touch sensor device are remotely located with respect toone another. As shown by the ellipses between the second and thirdpanels or touchscreen displays, any desired number of panels ortouchscreen displays may be implemented with in such an embodiment 3300(e.g., 3, 4, 5, or more).

FIG. 34 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment 3400 of aduplicated/mirrored touch sensor device including variable resolutionand interoperable sensor panels in accordance with the presentinvention. This diagram has similarity to one of the previous diagrams,FIG. 30 , with at least one difference being that the second panel ortouchscreen display is of a different size than the first panel ortouchscreen display. Note that the second panel or touchscreen displaymay be larger or smaller than the first panel or touchscreen display andvarious examples. For example, the second panel or touchscreen displaymay include a same number of row electrodes and column electrodes as thefirst panel or touchscreen display, but the row electrodes and/or columnelectrodes of the second panel or touchscreen display may be of adifferent pitch or separation than the row electrodes and/or the columnelectrodes is different between the first and second panels ortouchscreen displays. For example, when comparing the panels ortouchscreen displays, one of the panels or touchscreen displays may havea course sensitivity, while the other may have a fine sensitivity. Theresolution of the two respective panels or touchscreen displays of thetouch sensor device may be variable, yet the two respective panels ortouchscreen displays are interoperable with one another.

Also, note that any of the various aspects, embodiments, and/or examplesof the invention (and/or their equivalents) may be implemented usingpanels or touchscreen devices of the same or different size, same ordifferent resolution, same or different numbers of row electrodes and/orcolumn electrodes, same or different patterns of electrodes, etc.

It is noted that terminologies as may be used herein such as bit stream,stream, signal sequence, etc. (or their equivalents) have been usedinterchangeably to describe digital information whose contentcorresponds to any of a number of desired types (e.g., data, video,speech, text, graphics, audio, etc. any of which may generally bereferred to as ‘data’).

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. For some industries, anindustry-accepted tolerance is less than one percent and, for otherindustries, the industry-accepted tolerance is 10 percent or more. Otherexamples of industry-accepted tolerance range from less than one percentto fifty percent. Industry-accepted tolerances correspond to, but arenot limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations,temperature variations, rise and fall times, thermal noise, dimensions,signaling errors, dropped packets, temperatures, pressures, materialcompositions, and/or performance metrics. Within an industry, tolerancevariances of accepted tolerances may be more or less than a percentagelevel (e.g., dimension tolerance of less than +/−1%). Some relativitybetween items may range from a difference of less than a percentagelevel to a few percent. Other relativity between items may range from adifference of a few percent to magnitude of differences.

As may also be used herein, the term(s) “configured to”, “operablycoupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or “coupling” includes direct couplingbetween items and/or indirect coupling between items via an interveningitem (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, anelement, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for an example of indirectcoupling, the intervening item does not modify the information of asignal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or powerlevel. As may further be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where oneelement is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct andindirect coupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”.

As may even further be used herein, the term “configured to”, “operableto”, “coupled to”, or “operably coupled to” indicates that an itemincludes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s), etc., toperform, when activated, one or more its corresponding functions and mayfurther include inferred coupling to one or more other items. As maystill further be used herein, the term “associated with”, includesdirect and/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item beingembedded within another item.

As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicates that acomparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides a desiredrelationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may beachieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1. As maybe used herein, the term “compares unfavorably”, indicates that acomparison between two or more items, signals, etc., fails to providethe desired relationship.

As may be used herein, one or more claims may include, in a specificform of this generic form, the phrase “at least one of a, b, and c” orof this generic form “at least one of a, b, or c”, with more or lesselements than “a”, “b”, and “c”. In either phrasing, the phrases are tobe interpreted identically. In particular, “at least one of a, b, and c”is equivalent to “at least one of a, b, or c” and shall mean a, b,and/or c. As an example, it means: “a” only, “b” only, “c” only, “a” and“b”, “a” and “c”, “b” and “c”, and/or “a”, “b”, and “c”.

As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module”, “processingcircuit”, “processor”, “processing circuitry”, and/or “processing unit”may be a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices.Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller,digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of thecircuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module,module, processing circuit, processing circuitry, and/or processing unitmay be, or further include, memory and/or an integrated memory element,which may be a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices,and/or embedded circuitry of another processing module, module,processing circuit, processing circuitry, and/or processing unit. Such amemory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatilememory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flashmemory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information.Note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit,processing circuitry, and/or processing unit includes more than oneprocessing device, the processing devices may be centrally located(e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless busstructure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing viaindirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network).Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit,processing circuitry and/or processing unit implements one or more ofits functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry,and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing thecorresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, orexternal to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further notethat, the memory element may store, and the processing module, module,processing circuit, processing circuitry and/or processing unitexecutes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to atleast some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in one or more ofthe Figures. Such a memory device or memory element can be included inan article of manufacture.

One or more embodiments have been described above with the aid of methodsteps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claims. Further, the boundariesof these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined forconvenience of description. Alternate boundaries could be defined aslong as the certain significant functions are appropriately performed.Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily definedherein to illustrate certain significant functionality.

To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence couldhave been defined otherwise and still perform the certain significantfunctionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional buildingblocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scopeand spirit of the claims. One of average skill in the art will alsorecognize that the functional building blocks, and other illustrativeblocks, modules and components herein, can be implemented as illustratedor by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits,processors executing appropriate software and the like or anycombination thereof.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue”indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that thesteps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used inconjunction with one or more other routines. In addition, a flow diagrammay include an “end” and/or “continue” indication. The “end” and/or“continue” indications reflect that the steps presented can end asdescribed and shown or optionally be incorporated in or otherwise usedin conjunction with one or more other routines. In this context, “start”indicates the beginning of the first step presented and may be precededby other activities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue”indication reflects that the steps presented may be performed multipletimes and/or may be succeeded by other activities not specificallyshown. Further, while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering ofsteps, other orderings are likewise possible provided that theprinciples of causality are maintained.

The one or more embodiments are used herein to illustrate one or moreaspects, one or more features, one or more concepts, and/or one or moreexamples. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, an article ofmanufacture, a machine, and/or of a process may include one or more ofthe aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. described with referenceto one or more of the embodiments discussed herein. Further, from figureto figure, the embodiments may incorporate the same or similarly namedfunctions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the same or differentreference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps, modules, etc. maybe the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc. or differentones.

Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/orbetween elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein maybe analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-endedor differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as asingle-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path.Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it alsorepresents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particulararchitectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise beimplemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, directconnectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between otherelements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.

The term “module” is used in the description of one or more of theembodiments. A module implements one or more functions via a device suchas a processor or other processing device or other hardware that mayinclude or operate in association with a memory that stores operationalinstructions. A module may operate independently and/or in conjunctionwith software and/or firmware. As also used herein, a module may containone or more sub-modules, each of which may be one or more modules.

As may further be used herein, a computer readable memory includes oneor more memory elements. A memory element may be a separate memorydevice, multiple memory devices, or a set of memory locations within amemory device. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, randomaccess memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory,dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, a quantum register or otherquantum memory and/or any other device that stores data in anon-transitory manner. Furthermore, the memory device may be in a formof a solid-state memory, a hard drive memory or other disk storage,cloud memory, thumb drive, server memory, computing device memory,and/or other non-transitory medium for storing data. The storage of dataincludes temporary storage (i.e., data is lost when power is removedfrom the memory element) and/or persistent storage (i.e., data isretained when power is removed from the memory element). As used herein,a transitory medium shall mean one or more of: (a) a wired or wirelessmedium for the transportation of data as a signal from one computingdevice to another computing device for temporary storage or persistentstorage; (b) a wired or wireless medium for the transportation of dataas a signal within a computing device from one element of the computingdevice to another element of the computing device for temporary storageor persistent storage; (c) a wired or wireless medium for thetransportation of data as a signal from one computing device to anothercomputing device for processing the data by the other computing device;and (d) a wired or wireless medium for the transportation of data as asignal within a computing device from one element of the computingdevice to another element of the computing device for processing thedata by the other element of the computing device. As may be usedherein, a non-transitory computer readable memory is substantiallyequivalent to a computer readable memory. A non-transitory computerreadable memory can also be referred to as a non-transitory computerreadable storage medium.

While particular combinations of various functions and features of theone or more embodiments have been expressly described herein, othercombinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. Thepresent disclosure is not limited by the particular examples disclosedherein and expressly incorporates these other combinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch sensor device comprising: a first panelthat includes a first plurality of electrodes and is located at a firstlocation; a second panel that includes a second plurality of electrodesand is located at a second location that is remotely located from thefirst location; and a plurality of drive-sense circuits (DSCs) operablycoupled to the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality ofelectrodes, wherein a DSC of the plurality of DSCs is operably coupledvia a single line to a coupling of a first electrode of the firstplurality of electrodes and a first electrode of the second plurality ofelectrodes, wherein, when enabled, the DSC configured to: generate asignal based on a reference signal; provide the signal via the singleline to the coupling of the first electrode of the first plurality ofelectrodes and the first electrode of the second plurality of electrodesand simultaneously to sense the signal via the single line, whereinsensing of the signal includes detection of at least one of a firstelectrical characteristic of the first electrode of the first pluralityof electrodes or a second electrical characteristic of the firstelectrodes of the second plurality of electrodes; and generate a digitalsignal representative of the at least one of the first electricalcharacteristic of the first electrode of the first plurality ofelectrodes or the second electrical characteristic of the firstelectrodes of the second plurality of electrodes, wherein the pluralityof DSCs is located at a third location that is remotely located from thefirst location and the second location.
 2. The touch sensor device ofclaim 1 further comprising: memory that stores operational instructions;and one or more processing modules operably coupled to the plurality ofDSCs and the memory, wherein, when enabled, the one or more processingmodules configured to execute the operational instructions to: processthe digital signal representative of the at least one of the firstelectrical characteristic of the first electrode of the first pluralityof electrodes or the second electrical characteristic of the firstelectrodes of the second plurality of electrodes to determine at leastone of interaction or location of at least one of a user with at leastone of the first panel of the touch sensor device or the second panel ofthe touch sensor device.
 3. The touch sensor device of claim 2, whereinthe memory and the one or more processing modules are also located atthe third location that is remotely located from the first location andthe second location.
 4. The touch sensor device of claim 2, wherein thememory and the one or more processing modules are located at a fourthlocation that is remotely located from the first location, the secondlocation, and the third location.
 5. The touch sensor device of claim 4,wherein: the third location that is remotely located from the firstlocation and the second location is more than 10 meters from the firstlocation and the second location; and the fourth location that isremotely located from the third location is more than 10 meters from thethird location.
 6. The touch sensor device of claim 1, wherein thesecond location that is remotely located from the first location is morethan 10 meters from the first location.
 7. The touch sensor device ofclaim 1, wherein: a first subset of the first plurality of electrodes isaligned in a first direction within the first panel; and a second subsetof the first plurality of electrodes is aligned in a second directionwithin the first panel that is different than the first direction withinthe first panel.
 8. The touch sensor device of claim 1, wherein at leastone of the first electrode of the first plurality of electrodes or thefirst electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is a button. 9.The touch sensor device of claim 1, wherein: the first electrode of thefirst plurality of electrodes is a first button within a first matrix ofbuttons or a first array of buttons; and the first electrode of thesecond plurality of electrodes is a second button within a second matrixor buttons or a second array of buttons.
 10. The touch sensor device ofclaim 1, wherein: the first panel is implemented in a first touchscreendisplay; and the second panel is implemented in a second touchscreendisplay.
 11. The touch sensor device of claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe first panel or the second panel is implemented on at least onesurface that includes a wall, a floor, or a ceiling.
 12. The touchsensor device of claim 1, wherein: the first panel is implemented in afirst type of device; and the second panel is implemented in a secondtype of device that is different than the type of device.
 13. The touchsensor device of claim 1, wherein the DSC of the plurality of DSCsfurther comprises: a power source circuit operably coupled to thecoupling of the first electrode of the first plurality of electrodes andthe first electrode of the second plurality of electrodes via the singleline, wherein, when enabled, the power source circuit is configured toprovide the signal that includes an analog signal via the single line,and wherein the analog signal includes at least one of a DC (directcurrent) component or an oscillating component; and a power sourcechange detection circuit operably coupled to the power source circuit,wherein, when enabled, the power source change detection circuit isconfigured to: detect an effect on the analog signal that is based onthe at least one of the first electrical characteristic of the firstelectrode of the first plurality of electrodes or the second electricalcharacteristic of the first electrodes of the second plurality ofelectrodes; and generate the digital signal representative of the atleast one of the first electrical characteristic of the first electrodeof the first plurality of electrodes or the second electricalcharacteristic of the first electrodes of the second plurality ofelectrodes.
 14. The touch sensor device of claim 13 further comprising:the power source circuit including a power source to source at least oneof a voltage or a current to the coupling of the first electrode of thefirst plurality of electrodes and the first electrode of the secondplurality of electrodes via the single line; and the power source changedetection circuit including: a power source reference circuit configuredto provide at least one of a voltage reference or a current reference;and a comparator configured to compare the at least one of the voltageor the current provided to the coupling of the first electrode of thefirst plurality of electrodes and the first electrode of the secondplurality of electrodes via the single line to the at least one of thevoltage reference or the current reference in accordance with producingthe analog signal.
 15. A touch sensor device comprising: a first panelthat includes a first plurality of electrodes and is located at a firstlocation; a second panel that includes a second plurality of electrodesand is located at a second location that is remotely located from thefirst location, wherein at least one of the first panel or the secondpanel is implemented on at least one surface that includes a wall, afloor, or a ceiling; a plurality of drive-sense circuits (DSCs) operablycoupled to the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality ofelectrodes, wherein a DSC of the plurality of DSCs is operably coupledvia a single line to a coupling of a first electrode of the firstplurality of electrodes and a first electrode of the second plurality ofelectrodes, wherein, when enabled, the DSC configured to: generate asignal based on a reference signal; provide the signal via the singleline to the coupling of the first electrode of the first plurality ofelectrodes and the first electrode of the second plurality of electrodesand simultaneously to sense the signal via the single line, whereinsensing of the signal includes detection of at least one of a firstelectrical characteristic of the first electrode of the first pluralityof electrodes or a second electrical characteristic of the firstelectrodes of the second plurality of electrodes; and generate a digitalsignal representative of the at least one of the first electricalcharacteristic of the first electrode of the first plurality ofelectrodes or the second electrical characteristic of the firstelectrodes of the second plurality of electrodes, wherein the pluralityof DSCs is located at a third location that is remotely located from thefirst location and the second location; memory that stores operationalinstructions; and one or more processing modules operably coupled to theplurality of DSCs and the memory, wherein, when enabled, the one or moreprocessing modules configured to execute the operational instructionsto: process the digital signal representative of the at least one of thefirst electrical characteristic of the first electrode of the firstplurality of electrodes or the second electrical characteristic of thefirst electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes to determine atleast one of interaction or location of at least one of a user with atleast one of the first panel of the touch sensor device or the secondpanel of the touch sensor device.
 16. The touch sensor device of claim15, wherein at least one of the first electrode of the first pluralityof electrodes or the first electrode of the second plurality ofelectrodes is a button.
 17. The touch sensor device of claim 15,wherein: the first electrode of the first plurality of electrodes is afirst button within a first matrix of buttons or a first array ofbuttons; and the first electrode of the second plurality of electrodesis a second button within a second matrix or buttons or a second arrayof buttons.
 18. The touch sensor device of claim 15, wherein: the firstpanel is implemented in a first touchscreen display; and the secondpanel is implemented in a second touchscreen display.
 19. The touchsensor device of claim 15, wherein the DSC of the plurality of DSCsfurther comprises: a power source circuit operably coupled to thecoupling of the first electrode of the first plurality of electrodes andthe first electrode of the second plurality of electrodes via the singleline, wherein, when enabled, the power source circuit is configured toprovide the signal that includes an analog signal via the single line,and wherein the analog signal includes at least one of a DC (directcurrent) component or an oscillating component; and a power sourcechange detection circuit operably coupled to the power source circuit,wherein, when enabled, the power source change detection circuit isconfigured to: detect an effect on the analog signal that is based onthe at least one of the first electrical characteristic of the firstelectrode of the first plurality of electrodes or the second electricalcharacteristic of the first electrodes of the second plurality ofelectrodes; and generate the digital signal representative of the atleast one of the first electrical characteristic of the first electrodeof the first plurality of electrodes or the second electricalcharacteristic of the first electrodes of the second plurality ofelectrodes.
 20. The touch sensor device of claim 19 further comprising:the power source circuit including a power source to source at least oneof a voltage or a current to the coupling of the first electrode of thefirst plurality of electrodes and the first electrode of the secondplurality of electrodes via the single line; and the power source changedetection circuit including: a power source reference circuit configuredto provide at least one of a voltage reference or a current reference;and a comparator configured to compare the at least one of the voltageor the current provided to the coupling of the first electrode of thefirst plurality of electrodes and the first electrode of the secondplurality of electrodes via the single line to the at least one of thevoltage reference or the current reference in accordance with producingthe analog signal.